Tag: Andrew Clayton
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New EP – Triptych
I have new music to share. Three songs with a common theme, hence the name of the EP, and related artwork. It has been fun to go through the process of recording, and assembling the lyrics and art; and the songs are now available on Bandcamp: notejuste.bandcamp.com/album/triptych Do go and enjoy them. They’re free to…
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A Headline Gig
Although I’m not afraid of making noise, I generally do it in conjunction with others. Most of my musical career has been spent hiding at the back or off to the side behind a piano. This month I shall be performing for the first time as a headliner at St John’s Church, Walsall Wood. Of…
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We are loved
That’s the title of my new song, released today through Unified Praise. I’ve been writing church music of one kind or another for years, but my recent forays into oratorio and hymnody haven’t been quite as rewarding as thrashing a decent rock song out… And this is that song. I’ve written it inspired by the…
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48 Hours
Today, my oratorio 48 Hours in Jerusalem premiered at St Gabriel’s Church, Walsall. What’s in the box? Ten new songs, six soloists, and one very nervous piano player brought the Easter story to life in a new way – exploring the lives of Jesus’ followers in the immediate aftermath of his execution. Acknowledgements I must…
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All the right notes
The challenge today is writing words to fit existing music. Or if you prefer, poetry with fixed limits. For Maundy Thursday this year I have addressed the annual search for a church song that doesn’t focus on resurrection, but that people can remember. Maundy Thursday is one of those dates on the calendar that has…
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Holy, Holy, Holy Week
As we enter the peak of the Christian Calendar (festival wise – Lent on the run up to Easter, then all the way down the hill to Pentecost…) I’ve been writing again. This time I went looking for Hosannas and I found them in the obvious place – Anglican liturgy. So I’ve developed a song…
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Song for Lent and Eastertide
Here’s a new song I wrote for today’s Lichfield Diocese Green Team study day: Lead us, O Lord, from death to life,Teach us to steward the world you have made.Give us the will to speak and actonly and always in Jesus’ name. In the valley of bones,Father almighty, hear our prayer.Give us the words to…
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Melomane!
I’ve enjoyed working with Apollo, the music charity in Birmingham over the last couple of years. The Apollo Academy Youth Orchestra is once again setting forth with a wonderful plan – to gather musicians of all standards and stripes for a play day. You can sign up to join us here. There is plenty of…
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New music for Easter
I’m finishing up a presentation piece for Holy Saturday (April 19th, 2025) in conjunction with my employers at St Matthew’s Church, Walsall and St Gabriel’s Church, Fulbrook just down the road. Fr. Mark has been wonderful in supporting the project, and development has been partly funded by a generous grant from St Peter’s Saltley Trust.…
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Brass Band Play Day
Join Steve Pritchard-Jones and the wonderful West Midlands Police Band as they lead an open day of playing a selection of band pieces at St Matthew’s Church this May. Members of my band, Great Barr Brass, also play with the police band, and there’s an outside chance I’ll be picking up a trombone and playing…
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Mortal, can these bones live?
Imagine my delight recently to be invited by Lichfield Diocese Green Team to join them on a study day in Walsall. I’ll be helping out with sung worship, playing with Rev Rich Clarkson who I know through the 12 Song Challenge, and then working during the day to pen a new hymn for our act…
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New Year Resolutions?
I’m 10% into the “new” year, and not yet set on anything I want to change so badly I’ll make it a special focus. I guess I need to make more good music, lead more sung worship in the churches that ask me to, work harder with some of my friends on our collaborative efforts,…