MUSICAL WORKS
Explore the works of Scottish composer Helen MacKinnon. Highlights are listed below. Sheet music for most works, particularly Helen's sacred choral music, is available for purchase or hire.
Symphony Orchestra
Choral and Orchestral/ Ensemble
Ensemble Works (2-6 parts)
Solo Piano
The Beginning
(1998) 5'15 minutes
Orchestration: Solo Piano
A through-composed work for solo piano.
Choral Music
The Rinns of Islay
(2019) 18 minutes
Orchestration: 2(pic). 2(ca). 3(blc). 2/ 4.3.2.1. / timp. 2perc./ strings.
Recorded with the RSNO, 2021. Released 14 January 2022.
The Road to Calvary
(2021) 40 minutes
Orchestration: SATB Choir, Solo Alto / timp. / string orchestra
A powerful work portraying Christ's final hours.
Ave Maris Stella
(2019) 6'15 minutes
Orchestration: Solo Soprano, Solo Violin & String Orchestra (6.6.4.4.2.)
Premiered by the Subotica Philharmonic, Serbia, 2019.
Crossing the Domain
(2002) 13'30 minutes
Orchestration: Eight female voices 2S. 4M-S. 2A and 2 percussion
Setting of Edwin Morgan's From the Domain of Arnheim.
Caledonian Tracks
(2020) 6'45 minutes
Wind Ensemble (6 parts), Fl. Ob. Ca./ Alt. Sax. Cl./ Alt. Sax. Cl. Bcl./ Bsn
Commissioned by Caledonian Winds
Cutlery, Napkins, Salt & Pepper
(2002) 8' minutes
Orchestration: Flute, Horn in F and Cello
A single movement Trio.
Skin and Bone
(2002) 10'45 minutes
Orchestration: String Quartet.
Workshopped with The Paragon Ensemble. Exploring mental illness.
Fata Morgana
(2000) 3'40 minutes
Orchestration: Violin & Clarinet Duo
Premiered by Scott/ Miko Duo at GoMA.
Zephr
(2001) 10 minutes
Orchestration: Quintet - Flute, clarinet, violin, vibraphone and piano
Zephr - 'a gentle breeze'.
Two Little Ducks
(2004) 1'30 minutes
Orchestration: Piano Duo (one piano)
A short, fun, bluesy duet for two players. Easy to moderate.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
(2015) 4'50 minutes
SATB choir, a cappella. Trad Latin.
Awarded, Florence International Choir Festival, 2015.
Wings of the Morning
(2019) 3 minutes
Soprano & Piano. Text Psalm 139.
Premiere by Anita McKenzie-Mills and Margaret Sikora, 2019.
This Autumn Day
(2018) 4 minutes
Solo female voice (alto) & piano.
Popular ballad. Words by H. MacKinnon.
I'll Carry You Through Tomorrow
(2018) 3'40 minutes
SATB choir & piano.
Words by H. MacKinnon. Also available as SA vocal scoring.
O Good Jesus
(2017) 2'45 minutes
SATB choir & piano.
Traditional text. English. Setting of 14th c. prayer Anima Christi.
My Voice
(2016) 7'40 minutes
SSA Chorus and piano.
Commissioned by The University of Oxford. Women & the Canon International Conference.
Ave Maris Stella
(2019) 4'15 minutes
SSAATTBB choir, a cappella
Traditional Latin text. Arranged for a minimum of 8 voices.
Mass for the Spirit
(2018) 20 minutes
SATB choir & piano. Traditional Latin.
Five movements - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei.
Credo
(2018) 6 minutes
SATB choir & piano. Traditional Latin.
Premiere by Pitlochry & District Choral Society.
May the Road Rise Up!
(2017) 4'35 minutes
SATB choir & piano.
Traditional Irish Blessing text. Premiere by All Saints Choir.
Agnus Dei
(2016) 6'15 minutes
SATB choir & piano.
Lamb of God. Traditional text in Latin.
Sanctus
(2016) 1'20 minutes
SATB choir, a cappella.
Traditional text in Latin. A movement in Mass for the Spirit.
Remember Me
(2019) 3'15 minutes
AATTBarB a cappella.
Text by Christina Rossetti. Also arranged for solo Mezzo.
Gloria
(2019) 2'50 minutes
SAB choir & piano. English.
Commissioned by St John the Baptist RC Church, Perth.
Kyrie
(2018) 4'35 minutes
SATB choir & piano.
Traditional Latin text. Also available as intrsumental version.
Sing to the Lord a New Song
(2016) 6'15 minutes
SATB choir & piano.
Psalm 96. Commissioned by Perth Festival of the Arts.
Be Merciful Until Me (2016) 6'15 minutes
SATB choir, a cappella.
Traditional text. Setting of Psalm 56.
Heavensgate
(2002) 10'15 minutes
SATB choir and piano.
Two movements. Based on modern African poetry.