Coelos Ascendit Hodie – Alexander Hopkins (2025)
Commissioned by Continuum, Coelos Ascendit Hodie was commissioned for the debut album of Continuum that was recorded at St Barnabas Church, Ealing in August 2025. Coelos Ascendit Hodie pays homage to Charles Villiers Stanford’s setting of the same words from his Three Motets written for the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge. This new work is a vibrant double-choir work that moves from splendour, to dance, to peace.
My heart danceth – Lucy Walker (2025)
Lucy Walker is Composer in Residence of Continuum from 2025-27. For her first piece in this new role, commissioned in partnership with Clare Hall, Cambridge, Lucy sets words from Psalm 28 in a joyful and exuberant work that was premiered in April 2025 in Cambridge.
Reges Tharsis – Alexander Hopkins (2024)
Following on from writing Caeli Enarrant Gloriam Dei for the choir in 2023, Continuum have commissioned Alex to writer a lower-voices setting of Reges Tharsis. The new piece was premiered in St John’s Church, Harpenden on 8th December 2024 with further performances in Bedford and Sherborne.
In peace, I will lie down and sleep – Lucy Walker (2024)
Continuum is delighted to have commissioned Lucy to write a new piece for the choir to celebrate our Fifth Anniversary in 2024. The piece was premiered in our Fifth Anniversary concerts in October and November 2024 and was recorded for the Continuum Choral Library in September 2024.
The Morning Watch – Geraint Lewis (2024)
Co-commissioned by the Brecon Choir Festival and Continuum, Geraint Lewis’ The Morning Watch has been commissioned for a concert celebrating the poetry of Henry Vaughan and was premiered at Christ College Chapel, Brecon on 20th July 2024. The piece acts as a companion to Gustav Holst’s setting of The Evening Watch.
Cruz: A triptych-motet to the Holy Cross – Carlos Rodríguez Otero (2024)
Co-commissioned by Clare Hall College, Cambridge and Continuum, Carlos Rodríguez Otero’s Cruz was premiered in Clare College Chapel, Cambridge in March 2024. The triptych-motet contains text by Juan Boscán (1490-1542), Antonio Gala (1930-2023) and St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-82) with each movement glued together using verses of the latin hymn Vexilla Regis. This commission was made possible by the support of Professor Eric Nye.
The True Light – Helena Paish (2023)
Continuum is delighted to have commissioned Helena (a regular singer in the choir) to write for the choir. Following on from performances of her setting of While Mary Slept in our ‘Christmas with Continuum’ programme in 2022, Helena will be writing a new piece for the choir to be premiered in December 2023 at St Paul’s Church, Bedford. The True Light was recorded in September 2024 for release in the Continuum Choral Library.
Caeli Enarrant Gloriam Dei – Alexander Hopkins (2023)
Continuum have commissioned Alex to write a new piece that draws its inspiration from the rich polyphonic tradition of choral music in Britain. A commission to mark the four-hundredth anniversary year of the death of Thomas Weelkes and William Byrd, the piece will be premiered as part of our ‘A Heritage of British Choral Music’ programme in Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge in June 2023. Caeli Ennarrant was recorded in January 2024 for release in the Continuum Choral Library.
Tenebrae Responsories for Good Friday – Stuart Beer (2023)
Harry first got to know Stuart’s music whilst a Choral Scholar at Wells Cathedral and ever since, he has wanted to commission something from Stuart for Continuum! Having performed Stuart’s Lenten Reproaches, Continuum commissioned Stuart to write an extensive new work: nine Tenebrae Responsories for Good Friday. With a simultaneously modern yet ancient soundworld, and scored for SATB (SATB Soli), the result is an immersive choral experience that, we feel, will always contain contemporary resonances. The Responsories were premiered by Continuum in March 2023. Continuum recorded the fifth responsory, darkness fell, in September 2024 for release in the Continuum Choral Library.
Christus Resurgens – Harold Thalange (2020)
Following on from the performance of All these died in faith in 2019, Continuum commissioned Harold Thalange to write a second piece in early 2020. The piece was due to receive its first performance in April 2020 but was postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic and received its first performance as part of our ‘A Lenten Reflection’ programme in St John’s Church, Harpenden in March 2023. Christus Resurgens is a rhythmically challenging and jubilant Easter motet that, with All these died in faith, comprises half of Thalange’s Four Latin Motets. The remaining two motets were written for The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge and Stephen Layton.
All these died in faith – Harold Thalange (2019)
Setting the words on the Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge memorial to those who members of the College who died in WW1 – from the Epistle to the Hebrews – All these died in faith was premiered by Continuum in November 2019 in Trinity College Chapel. The piece was included in our ‘Music for Remembrance’ programme in November 2021 performed in St Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico.
Continuum is very grateful to the donors and sponsors that allow these projects to happen. More information about supporting the choir can be found here: