Christine Donkin

Christine Donkin is a Canadian composer of choral and instrumental music which has been performed and recorded by (among others) the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony New Brunswick, DaCapo Chamber Choir, Elektra Women’s Choir, Cantus (the Norwegian choir that can be heard at the start of the Disney film Frozen), and the Canadian Guitar Quartet.

She is also a music educator who prioritizes the creation of music for students of all levels. Her pedagogical compositions and arrangements for piano, violin, and other instruments are featured in the publications of several music exam organizations, including the largest in Canada (the Royal Conservatory of Music) as well as two of the largest in the world (the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College London); and as such are used by music students and teachers around the world.

Christine’s interest in words has resulted in some unusual sources of text for her choral compositions, including an ornithologist’s field notes, a list of words in thirty-five different languages, vowel and consonant sounds instead of words, and several compositions in which the lyrics were created by the choir that commissioned the work. She has also initiated several creative collaborations, commissioning both poets and fellow composers.

For more information visit www.christinedonkin.com.


Compositions by Christine Donkin

Autumn Colours in the Canal

Christine Donkin treble choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min.

In Flanders Fields (SATB)

Christine Donkin mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, less than 3 min.

In Flanders Fields (TTBB)

Christine Donkin tb choir, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, less than 3 min.

In Paradisum

Christine Donkin mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Sorrow Into Song

Christine Donkin mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min.

Three Cummings Settings

Christine Donkin high voice, Difficulty : 4, piano, 5-10 min.

1: (Easy) No divisi in voice parts, accompaniment doubles or supports vocal parts, diatonic, symmetrical phrases, textures mostly homophonic, simple rhythms, stepwise voice leading (conjunct), moderate ranges, no extended techniques, and limited sustained singing.

2: (Medium Easy) Limited divisi, voices somewhat independent from accompaniment, some chromatics, phrases may be longer or more fragmented, mostly homophonic, moderate rhythmic complexity, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderate ranges, extended techniques are simple, limited sustained singing.

3. (Medium) Limited divisi, unaccompanied, or with independent accompaniment (voice parts not doubled), many chromatics, phrases of varying lengths, more contrapuntal textures, moderately complex rhythms, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderately difficult/challenging ranges, extended techniques are potentially challenging, and some sustained singing.

4. (Medium Difficult) Abundant divisi, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, many difficult intervals (disjunct motion), difficult/challenging ranges, potentially difficult extended techniques, and a demand for sustained singing.

5. (Difficult) Adundant divis, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, extreme ranges, use of challenging or unusual extended vocal techniques, abundant sustained singing.