Two part setting with piano accompaniment of this famous adage. It utilises simple techniques such as canon and imitation.

The poem ‘Autumn Fires’ comes from ‘A Child’s Garden of Verses’ by Robert Louis Stephenson and is set for SA choir with piano accompaniment. Modal throughout with a broad pitch range, surprising harmonic twists including dissonances in the part writing, this work is suited to a more advanced choir. Composed in 2019, it was first premiered by Birralee Voices, conducted by Jenny Moon, and live streamed in November 2020. A video recording of this performance is available on the Birralee Voices YouTube channel. Published by the Australian Music Centre https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/autumn-fires-for-children-s-choir-and-piano

The poem ‘Where Go the Boats?’ comes from ‘A Child’s Garden of Verses’ by Robert Louis Stephenson and is set for SA choir with piano accompaniment. The song offers many musical challenges, covering a broad pitch range with occasional further subdivisions of parts, making this work suitable for a more advanced ensemble. The work was commissioned by Trinity College, Summerhill in 2018 as part of my role as Composer Fellow. ‘Where Go the Boats?’ and its companion song, ‘Autumn Fires’, was first performed by Birralee Voices, Brisbane in 2021. Published by the Australian Music Centre https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/where-go-the-boats-for-children-s-choir-and-piano

‘New Friends’ is ideal for the start of the new school year. Composed in 2015 and revised in 2020, it is composed in a contemporary pop style with syncopated rhythms and easy to remember melodies.

Revised in 2020, ‘See the Leaves’ is a unison accompanied song well suited to a developing treble choir. The song includes an optional second part, adding canonic imitation into the texture and offering an ideal opportunity to introduce two-part singing. With a lyrical, memorable melody and mostly limited pitch range, choristers can focus on developing their intonation and expressive skills.

The song cycle ‘In the Garden’ includes five short unison songs with music and lyrics by Heather Percy. Each song is about an insect or bug that is found in the typical backyard garden: caterpillar; ladybird; snail (Escargot); butterfly and dragonfly. ‘Butterfly’ was revised in 2020 and includes an optional second part. Due to their brevity these songs are reasonably easy to commit to memory and are intended to be performed as a complete cycle, with each song connected by key. The melodies offer some musical challenges and the role of the piano accompaniment doubles as harmonic support as well as word painting the text.

‘Little Bird’ is for unison treble choir with optional second part and piano accompaniment. Capturing the gentility and beauty of the dove, with a soaring middle melody that explores the higher soprano register. ‘Little Bird’ is published by Mark O’Leary Publishing, Melbourne, with words and music by Heather Percy.

‘Little Mouse’ focuses on the intervals of the perfect 4th and the major and minor 2nd. Easily memorised due to a limited range and repetition, the piano accompaniment is written to harmonically support the melody, allowing choristers to develop greater vocal independence in preparation for more complex repertoire.