Page 8 - Forbes L'Estrange Drop, drop, slow tears

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Joanna Forbes L’Estrange (b.1971) is an Anglo-Irish soprano, composer and choral director who receives engagements throughout the world. A Master of Arts graduate in Music of Oxford University, she began her career as soprano and Musical Director of the five-time Grammy® Award-winning a cappella group The Swingles and her compositional output reflects her love of choral music, close harmony and jazz. She writes songs (including her own lyrics), sacred anthems, Christmas carols, television production music and arrangements, regularly collaborating with her husband Alexander L’Estrange on their award-winning series of large-scale community choral works.
A passionate advocate for gender equality, Joanna has become the go-to composer for songs about women. Commissions include We will remember them for the Military Wives Choirs’, A woman (wearing bloomers) on a wheel which has been made into a film by the NYCGB, Suffragette March, Give us grace and A place for us maids, celebrating 40 years of female undergraduates at Trinity College, Cambridge. She made history with her song Twenty-first-century Woman by organising and conducting the first ever all-female recording session at Abbey Road Studios. Visit
her website: www.joannaforbeslestrange.com/composing
Choral pieces by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange published by the RSCM include:
Faith, hope and love King’s College Service
The mountains shall bring peace Preces and Responses
Saint Richard’s Prayer
The St Helen’s Service
The Chorister’s Prayer Words from the Cross
An anthem for Sopranos, Altos and Lower voices suitable for weddings and other occasions
A setting for SATB and organ of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. Recorded by the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
The RSCM Coronation Anthem, Published in two versions: SATB Choir and organ; Unison and piano
A setting for SATB and organ N.B. The Lord’s Prayer is also published as a stand-alone piece
A setting of the prayer of St Richard of Chichester for Sopranos, Altos and Lower Voices
A communion setting for Congregation and SATB Choir Published in two versions: 2-part upper voices and organ; SA/Lower voices and organ
A Passiontide anthem for SATB and organ setting words by the composer. Recorded by The Swingles
Order code: a4083 RSCM Catalogue: ra671