A Song Cycle
1. 9th October 2018 - Mezzo Soprano and Piano | Range: D4 - G4
2. Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep - SSA | Range: B3 - F5
3. Then the Letting Go (Sibling) - Mezzo Soprano, Horn in F and Cymbals | Range: G3 - Eb5
4. Child and Mother - Soprano and Harp/Piano | Range: C4 - F5
5. Song for my Children (A Te) - Mezzo Soprano and Piano | Range: A3 - E5
In Memoriam
Marvellous John Bartholomew Jarman-Pinto
3rd September 2014
285g
Modena, Italy
Programme Notes
'Songs for Marvellous' was written after our son, Marvellous, was born at 20 weeks in Modena, Italy, in 2014. I came away from the explicitly traumatic experience feeling that I needed to prove to him my worth. I had failed him, as I saw it then, in my most basic task as a parent, failed to keep him alive and failed to bring his body home.
I spent weeks and months trying to lose myself in tasks; moving house, video games, cleaning, washing, composing and transcribing music, all to keep my mind from rehashing over every single moment of my experience in Italy. I was rebuffed so many times when trying to get help for my post traumatic stress disorder, not to mention the grief.
In the midst of this, some beautiful people wound their healing hands around us, embracing us with letters, regular phone calls and texts, medical and emotional support, hugs and shoulders to cry on.
I knew that I wanted to have Marvy memorialised somehow. Writing ‘Songs For Marvellous’ was a way to grieve, heal and keep our son in our lives. The baby that only I knew; who would wriggle when I felt stressed; wake me at night with his kicking; respond instantly to my touch; who cheekily showed us his bum during scans; who was such a beautiful weight to hold and a perfect being to set eyes upon. Who is so loved, wanted and missed.
He will always journey with me.
Performance Instructions
‘Songs For Marvellous’ was designed to be performed as either individual songs or as a whole. Regardless of how many pieces you choose, they must always be performed in the order below.
1. 9th October 2018 - Mezzo Soprano and Piano
2. Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep - SSA
3. Then the Letting Go (Sibling) - Mezzo Soprano, Horn in F and Cymbals
4. Child and Mother - Soprano and Harp/Piano
5. Song for my Children (A Te) - Mezzo Soprano and Piano
PDF Digital Download
2 Copy License (Singer and Pianist)
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SSA | Range: A3 - F#5
Poet, William Shakespeare
Programme Notes
Heigh-ho, the Holly! was inspired by a call for scores looking at the theme of ‘winter’. Composed for the Carvetii Trio, (Clare Eccles, Sarah Wallcook and Ella Jarman-Pinto), in 2015, the piece was revised and completed in time for my mother, Jilly Jarman’s, 60th birthday celebrations. The BBC Singers performed the work in October 2016.
Performance Instructions
This piece has dramatic mood changes, with chilling, sarcastic verses and a light-hearted and mocking refrain.
Voices should be light and percussive, but allowed to soar on the long notes.
The piece should be rhythmic and flowing, with the refrain especially hearty! Treat it almost like a drinking/folk song.
Duration: 2 minutes
PDF Digital Download
3 Licensed Copies
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying
For more than 30 copies, contact Ella directly
SSA | Range: A3 - F#5
Poet, William Shakespeare
Programme Notes
Heigh-ho, the Holly! was inspired by a call for scores looking at the theme of ‘winter’. Composed for the Carvetii Trio, (Clare Eccles, Sarah Wallcook and Ella Jarman-Pinto), in 2015, the piece was revised and completed in time for my mother, Jilly Jarman’s, 60th birthday celebrations. The BBC Singers performed the work in October 2016.
Performance Instructions
This piece has dramatic mood changes, with chilling, sarcastic verses and a light-hearted and mocking refrain.
Voices should be light and percussive, but allowed to soar on the long notes.
The piece should be rhythmic and flowing, with the refrain especially hearty! Treat it almost like a drinking/folk song.
Duration: 2 minutes
PDF Digital Download
3 Licensed Copies
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying
Choral: SSA | Range: B3 - F5
With piano reduction
Poet: Mary Elizabeth Frye
Programme Notes
This choral work was written for the Carvetii Trio and premiered at Lanercost Priory, Cumbria, on 7th December 2014. The BBC Singers gave the work further performances in 2015 and 2016
In the autumn of 2014 we lost our unborn son, Marvellous, and my Nanny, Vita Pinto. This poem struck me initially as Marvellous was born in Italy and we had an awful experience trying and failing to bring him home. It then chimed with me again at my Nanny's funeral as we all stood around her grave singing our hearts out. I have added a later dedication to my Nana, Stella Jarman, who died in Autumn 2018. This piece is part of ‘Songs for Marvellous’, a song-cycle dedicated to our son.
Performance Instructions
Each phrase of the piece must be allowed to stand on its own merit.
Treat the rests between phrases as timed pauses. The length of the rests can be slightly flexible.
Duration: 2 minutes
PDF Digital Download
15 Licensed Copies
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying.
For more than 30 copies, contact Ella directly
SSA | Range: A3 - F#5
Poet, William Shakespeare
Programme Notes
Heigh-ho, the Holly! was inspired by a call for scores looking at the theme of ‘winter’. Composed for the Carvetii Trio, (Clare Eccles, Sarah Wallcook and Ella Jarman-Pinto), in 2015, the piece was revised and completed in time for my mother, Jilly Jarman’s, 60th birthday celebrations. The BBC Singers performed the work in October 2016.
Performance Instructions
This piece has dramatic mood changes, with chilling, sarcastic verses and a light-hearted and mocking refrain.
Voices should be light and percussive, but allowed to soar on the long notes.
The piece should be rhythmic and flowing, with the refrain especially hearty! Treat it almost like a drinking/folk song.
Duration: 2 minutes
PDF Digital Download
1 Licensed Copy
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying
A Collection of fourteen scores, professionally notated, printed, bound, and signed with a special message by Ella, including pieces commissioned by BBC Radio 3.
This Collection is stocked by Cambridge Pendelbury Library of Music | Guildhall School of Music & Drama | Trinity Laban Jerwood Library | Leeds Conservatoire of Music | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
To listen to a curated playlist for the collection click here.
Free UK postage.
Plango: A Cure Lament | High Soprano and Piano
(Poet Jo Brandon, Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for International Women’s Commission 2021)
Everyday Magic | Mezzo Soprano and Piano
(PRS, Wild Plum & Cheltenham Music Festival Workshop Commission 2019)
Shunned Street | Low Mezzo Soprano and Piano
(Poet Jo Brandon, Leeds Lieder + Festival 2011)
This Little Rose | Soprano and Piano
(Poet Emily Dickinson, released on Emergence, an album by Nadine Benjamin and Nicole Panizza)
Songs for Marvellous | Voice, Piano, Harp, Horn, Cymbals and SSA
(Including 9th October 2014, Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep, - then the letting go - (Sibling), Child and Mother and Song For My Children, 2014-18)
Lamplight | Soprano and Piano
(Poet May Wedderburn Cannan)
Breake of Day | Soprano and Piano
Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep | SSA
(Performed by BBC Singers 2015 & 2016)
Heigh Ho - The Holly! | SSA
(Performed by BBC Singers 2016)
Lucky | Solo Tuba
(Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 2020 )
...And You Know We'll Be Alright? | Full Orchestra
(Performing parts available to hire separately)
I Remember. Like I'm The Only | wind orchestra
(Commissioned as part of the Adopt a Composer Scheme, 2012. Performing parts available to hire separately)
A Domani, People. A Domani | Guitar Ensemble
(Commissioned by Royal Philharmonic Society for Bicentenary Celebrations 2013. Inclusive of performing parts)
Lesser Trefoil | Solo Flute
(Commissioned by City of London Festival, 2012)
Choral: SSA | Range: B3 - F5
With piano reduction
Poet: Mary Elizabeth Frye
Programme Notes
This choral work was written for the Carvetii Trio and premiered at Lanercost Priory, Cumbria, on 7th December 2014. The BBC Singers gave the work further performances in 2015 and 2016
In the autumn of 2014 we lost our unborn son, Marvellous, and my Nanny, Vita Pinto. This poem struck me initially as Marvellous was born in Italy and we had an awful experience trying and failing to bring him home. It then chimed with me again at my Nanny's funeral as we all stood around her grave singing our hearts out. I have added a later dedication to my Nana, Stella Jarman, who died in Autumn 2018. This piece is part of ‘Songs for Marvellous’, a song-cycle dedicated to our son.
Performance Instructions
Each phrase of the piece must be allowed to stand on its own merit.
Treat the rests between phrases as timed pauses. The length of the rests can be slightly flexible.
Duration: 2 minutes
PDF Digital Download
3 Licensed Copies
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying
Choral: SSA | Range: B3 - F5
With piano reduction
Poet: Mary Elizabeth Frye
Programme Notes
This choral work was written for the Carvetii Trio and premiered at Lanercost Priory, Cumbria, on 7th December 2014. The BBC Singers gave the work further performances in 2015 and 2016
In the autumn of 2014 we lost our unborn son, Marvellous, and my Nanny, Vita Pinto. This poem struck me initially as Marvellous was born in Italy and we had an awful experience trying and failing to bring him home. It then chimed with me again at my Nanny's funeral as we all stood around her grave singing our hearts out. I have added a later dedication to my Nana, Stella Jarman, who died in Autumn 2018. This piece is part of ‘Songs for Marvellous’, a song-cycle dedicated to our son.
Performance Instructions
Each phrase of the piece must be allowed to stand on its own merit.
Treat the rests between phrases as timed pauses. The length of the rests can be slightly flexible.
Duration: 2 minutes
PDF Digital Download
1 Licensed Copy
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying
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