Recommended Works

Songs

(Versions of most of the songs listed can be found in alternative keys via the Collection's catalogue)

Some of Thiman's most popular solo songs are published by Stainer and Bell in a volume:

Eric Thiman: Thirteen Songs
https://stainer.co.uk/shop/b665/

This includes his famous setting of Wordsworth's 'Daffodils', I wandered lonely as a cloud which can be heard here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_FkMvsFu24

and The Shepherd (a setting of William Blake)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjb8ujho6CM

and one of Thiman's own favourites. Madonna and Child (a setting of Gerald Bullett)
which is on the Collection's own CD, as a unison song:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zsFBivcLClZRkkmB9Ihnk

Other notable songs, not in the above volume are:

Jesus the very thought of Thee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Kp657QoLA

The God of love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jyBNJBtbc

My Master hath a garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Uj-600dKY

The Path to the Moon (often appears as a piece for Grade 3 singing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iMv748ZmcM

I Love all graceful things
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTXJIT90Y8Q

Away to Rio (once performed at the Proms. Here as a unison song from the Collection's own recording)
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zsFBivcLClZRkkmB9Ihnk

Partsongs

I wandered lonely as a cloud*, as well as being a solo song, also exists for SS and piano and SSA and piano. Here is the former, from the Collection's own recording:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zsFBivcLClZRkkmB9Ihnk

She walks in beauty (a setting of Byron) for SA and Piano. There is a version for SATB and piano* (adapted by Guy Turner) here is the original, from our own recording:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zsFBivcLClZRkkmB9Ihnk

Go lovely rose*(a setting of Edmund Waller) SATB unaccompanied
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXmQprdQTjc

Oh, no John* (folksong arrangement) exists for TTBB amd for SATB unaccompanied – here is the latter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iHueZKrxEk

She is my slender, small love (Setting of Syndey Bell) TTBB unaccompanied
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27vBgdN3c5Y

Anthems

The following Anthems are to be found on the collection's own recording, and are amongst his most appealing:

Morning Hymn* (Words:Thomas Flatman) SATB and organ
I praised the earth* (Reginald Heber) SATB and organ – suitable for Harvest
A Morning Prayer* (WB Heathcote) SATB unaccompanied
Who would true valour see* (Bunyan) SATB and organ
There is a stream* (John Mason) SATB and organ
Fight the good fight* (JSB Monsell) SATB and organ – hymn anthem to original tune
Lord, think on me* (Synesius) SATB unaccompanied
Seek ye the Lord* (Isaiah) SATB and organ
Let Thy merciful ears, O Lord* (Collect for 10th Sunday after Trinity) SATB unaccompanied
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zsFBivcLClZRkkmB9Ihnk

Plus:

O that men would praise the Lord (Psalm 107)*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsAfNEe2Wrk

How lovely are Thy dwellings SATB and organ* or SS and organ*. Here you can hear the latter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo4yVl5CDGU

Let all the world in every corner sing (Herbert) SATB and organ*, or brass and organ, or ochestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YpjCorHmq4

Sing alleluia forth* (Ellerton) This performance from and LP of the 1930 Festival at Alexandra Palace – massed nonconformist choirs. Thiman was involved with this Festival for many years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s_sczqIKBY

Psalm 23, a recently discovered piece for Soprano solo, SATB choir and piano, Duration 5.5 minutes

https://youtu.be/FK8j1ZzXaX0

Canticles

As Thiman mainly worked for the non-conformist Churches, he did not write many canticles. However there are the following:

D-flat Service: Jubilate and Te Deum (we have not been able to discover a Benedictus), Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. The Te Deum can be heard here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zsFBivcLClZRkkmB9Ihnk

There are also some settings of the Te Deum, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for Treble voices.

Carols

The Bell Carol* (Words: Anon) – included in the University Carol Book SATB unaccompanied – imitates the sound of church bells.

Madonna and Child (Words: Gerald Bullett) – and SATB arrangement* of the better known solo song (see above)

Carol of the Birds* (Words: KM Warburton) for SATB unaccompanied or unison and piano. This recording is an adapted mix of the two:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6nr6TowkxLA9rJbhTee7pR

Donkey plod and Mary ride (Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith) – in the Novello Carol Book (adapted by William Llewelwyn from the song The Path to the Moon)

Choral Works

The Last Supper* is a church cantata (similar format to Stainer's Crucifixion) including choruses, solos and congregational hymns. SATB and organ (or orchestra), duration about 30 minutes.

The Nativity* is a similar format to the Last Supper, but obviously for Christmas.

The Earth is the Lord's*: again a similar format, this time for Harvest

The High Tide (on the Coast of Lincolnshire) (Words: Jean Ingelow) for SATB and piano* (or orchestra) There is also a version for SSA.

A Christmas Triad* for SATB and Organ (or orchestra) about nine minutes.

The Three Ships* (A Christmas Rhapsody) SATB with Organ or piano or String Orchestra

Psalm 23 a recently discovered piece for Soprano solo, SATB choir and piano, Duration 5.5 minutes

https://youtu.be/FK8j1ZzXaX0

Organ Music

Thiman wrote a huge amount of organ music, most of which is playable by amateur organists. This is just a brief selection of the more popular pieces.

Novello publishes An Eric Thiman Collection consisting of seven organ pieces
http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/1584/2528

This includes the well-known March for a Pageant here played by John Wright on the collection's own recording:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zsFBivcLClZRkkmB9Ihnk

Other suggested pieces:

Postlude on Adeste Fideles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sykuoBioy1s

Meditation on a Traditional Hymn Tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Ytapcd6yM

Trumpet Tune and Air
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUW0In4d_HA

Holst Jupiter arr Thiman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSqBKXDG6VE

Improvisation on Crimond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPJF5PfKpus

Postlude Alla Marcia (3 Pieces No 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz6_unsXsC4

Meditation on the Hymn Tune Slane (3 Pieces No 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwpZ5lz4uNQ

Piano Solos

There is a vast amount of mainly educational piano music, but a few pieces are suitable for adult pianists:

Suite for Piano – three movements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjzqqPHZFwY

Flood-time (part of Water Pieces) – this piece appears more often than any other Thiman piece on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jURXIMBvUII

Sonatina in One Movement

Piano Duets

Suite for Piano Duet – three movements for more than competent pianists – it was written for the famous duet recitalists Yorke Bowen and Henry Isaacs

And some easier, light-weight entertaining duets:

Greenacre

Sligo Reel

Sussex Milkmaids

Orchestral Music

Elegiac Melody for Strings and Organ * – within the capabilities of reasonable amateur players

Variations on a Theme of Elgar *– for professional String Orchestra

Fittleworth Fair *– four movement suite suitable for amateur orchestra

Highland Scenes *– three movement suite suitable for amateur orchestra

March – Stirling Castle * – suitable for amateur orchestra

* indicates that a borrowable set of copies is available in the Collection