PRAISE FOR SIMSIC Judges’ comments

Complete comments of the adjudicators of the Royal School of Church Music annual competition:

“There is one clear and outright winner of the Harold Smart Composition Competition 2008: ‘Harvest Hymn,’ an adapted setting of a poem by Sarojini Naidu from her collection ‘The Golden Threshold,’ by American composer Jon Simsic.

“This anthem for four-part choir and organ is a composition that shows a sophistication rarely seen previously in this competition. This is a challenging piece, even by Cathedral standards, not least because of the organ part that requires both an excellent organist and an instrument capable of the varied textures.

“The vocal writing, despite the modern idiom of the writing, is exemplary, never straying beyond comfort zones, apart maybe from the final chord of exuberance. Vocal lines are well thought-out and well supported by the accompaniment.

“The adjudicators felt that this was a work of assured technique and has a real flare for the dramatic. We look forward to its performance in Salisbury Cathedral.”