Choral Music
Bernard Trafford’s Choral Music
Dr Bernard Trafford studied music at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, where he was Organ Scholar. After teacher training he enjoyed 12 years as a music teacher in state and independent senior schools, giving boys’ and mixed choirs performing opportunities in English cathedrals and major concert halls, cathedrals and other venues in Germany, Italy and the American Mid-West. He also founded and for eight years conducted an orchestra based in the English Midlands. Since 1990 music has been largely a recreational activity for him, but he remains musically active, singing, composing and arranging choral music and well as playing the trumpet in both classical and jazz styles.
Bernard has always believed that the essence of producing electrifying
concerts, apart from inspiring the performers, lies in planning programmes that
are perfectly fitted to the particular occasion and venue. Where a gap cannot
be filled by existing repertoire, Bernard has generally composed or arranged
something suitable. Since music became a spare-time occupation for him, he
feels that his style has matured into something distinctively of, yet
not quite in, the English choral tradition. Jazz, African and
contemporary styles have coloured the formal musical language in which he grew
up, and his ability to match the mood and uniqueness of occasions with an
immediate attractiveness and instant appeal has involved him in writing choral
music for specific events, frequently weddings (both church and civil).
The resulting works are by no means all for a church setting, though as it
happens most of the selection listed here on this website are. Bernard’s choral
pieces have been performed in Wells Cathedral, Bath Abbey, in the City of
London and in Italy and the USA. The music is distinctive, different and
attractive and will add a refreshing new dimension to a choir’s repertoire.
The sound tracks here are not professional recordings but for the most part
live takes of the groups for whom the works were written (generally family,
friends or students): Bernard feels passionately that his music should be
performable by any reasonably competent choir, not just by professionals.
Many of Bernard’s available choral compositions were, for reasons of the
performers involved, originally written in 6, 7 or 8 parts. He is aware that
such divisions can cause problems for many choirs, and he has revised much of
his work into a straight SATB format. He says he enjoys the discipline of
writing or reworking compositions strictly in four parts, and likes the spare
texture that emerges. As a result, for some earlier works there is now a choice
of four-part or larger ensemble. Nearly all Bernard’s choral music is a cappella
(unaccompanied).
Bernard’s music doesn’t take itself too seriously: that reflects the composer’s
approach. For example, he can’t resist still including on this webpage the song
‘Winning Through’ (not a choral piece) which he feels should become the
next great sporting anthem, if only someone would take it up…
Ordering Bernard Trafford’s choral music
If you like what you see and hear and would like to order copies of Bernard’s music, all of which is subject to copyright and over which he asserts moral right, please email:
The normal
process is that an order and price are agreed, and then Bernard emails the
purchaser a pdf of the required score with permission to make a specified
number of copies. Other arrangements can be made if necessary, however,
including provision of ready-printed copies.
To hear
the music and see extracts from scores click on one of the links below:
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