The Breath of Life

Matthew Coleridge - The Breath of Life

The Breath of Life is a joyful and uplifting new cantata by composer Matthew Coleridge. Scored for choir and chamber orchestra, this radiant work draws on sacred texts, hymns and poetry to explore themes of Christianity, spirituality and humanism.

From the shimmering stillness of its opening to its elemental evocation of thunder, vivid echoes of the natural world and warmth of hymn-like praise, the music brims with rhythmic energy, lyrical beauty and emotional depth.

Rooted in the English choral tradition yet refreshingly modern in voice, the Breath of Life is a piece that encourages both reflection and celebration. Accessible, deeply moving, and irresistibly singable, it is a work that choirs will want to perform, and audiences will return to again and again.


Its flexible scoring - ranging from organ & harp accompaniment to chamber orchestra - make it an approachable and affordable repertoire choice for chamber choirs, choral societies, church choirs and school ensembles.

Rehearsal tracks can be downloaded here


Vocal scores

Buy The Breath of Life vocal scores

Requiem can be purchased, hired or download directly from the composer. UK choirs can hire vocal score sets from £2.50 per copy. For all hire enquiries, please email music@matthewcoleridge.com

purchase a single copy:

BUY VOCAL SCORE
Matthew Coleridge The Breath of Life download perusal score

The Breath of Life

  • i. Rejoice in God, O Ye Tongues
  • ii. Benedicite
  • iii. Arise, the Breath, the Life
  • iv. Awake, my Glory
  • v. Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow
  • vi. For Thunder is the Voice of God
  • vii. These Great Trees are Prayers
  • viii. The Breath of Life is in the Sunlight

Scored for SATB choir (with divisi) organ, strings and percussion. Reduced version for organ, harp and percussion available early 2026. Chamber orchestra version available early 2026


Duration 31 minutes

Orchestral parts

Orchestral parts will be availble to hire and buy from early 2026. For hire sets, please email music@matthewcoleridge.com


Chamber Orchestra & Organ

Instrumentation:
  • flute
  • oboe
  • clarinet
  • french horn
  • trumpet
  • trombone
  • timpani
  • percussion
  • harp
  • organ
  • strings (minimum 2.2.2.2.1)

String Orchestra, Organ & percussion

Instrumentation:
  • strings (minimum 2.2.2.2.1)
  • timpani & percussion (2 players)
  • harp (optional)
  • organ
  • optional brass (horn, trumpet, trombone

Reduced scoring

Instrumentation:
  • harp
  • organ
  • timpani & percussion (2 players)
  • optionak parts for string quintet
Performances

Performances in 2026

May 9 Come and Sing Christchurch Priory, Dorset
May 16 West Dorset Singers & Broadoak Choir Bridport URC
May 24 KanSynergie and friends Dol de Bretagne Cathedral, Brittany
June 6 Come and Sing Pershore Abbey, Worcs
June 13 Rochester Cathedral TBC
July 4 Halifax Choral Society and friends Halifax Minster Summer Festival
September 26 Come and Sing Shrewsbury Abbey, Shropshire

Performances in 2025

March 1 2025 Dartington Community Choir Buckfast Abbey, Devon (first performance)
October 4 Sherborne Abbey, Dorset
November 15 Selby Abbey, Yorks
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Choral workshops 2026

Come and sing with one of the UK's most exciting choral composers, Matthew Coleridge

 A great force for good in the choral world  - Alexander Armstrong, Classic FM

Cambridge

Cambridge
Saturday 7th March 2026

Requiem in a Day at Downing Place URC, in aid of Birmingham Children's Hospital



Harrogate

Harrogate
Saturday 25th April 2026

Yorkshire Choral Workshop - in association with Harrogate Choral Society



Christchurch

Christchurch Priory
Saturday 9th May 2026

Come and Sing on the Dorset coast, as we perform Matthew's radiant new cantata The Breath of Life



Brittany

Brittany - Dol de Bretagne Cathedral
Saturday 23rd - Sunday 24th May 2026

Sing in the European premiere of The Breath of Life *** last few places ***



Pershore

Pershore Abbey
Saturday 6th June 2026

Come and sing radiant new cantata The Breath of Life in a beautiful abbey in the Midlands



plymouth

Plymouth Minster
Saturday 20th June 2026

Requiem in a Day - come and sing in association with Plymouth University Choral Society



Halifax

Halifax Minster
Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th July 2026

Come and Sing The Breath of Life with Halifax Choral Society at Halifax Minster Summer Festival



shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Abbey
Saturday 26th September 2026

Sing The Breath of Life with massed Shropshire choirs, hosted by Shrewsbury Choral Society



bradford

Bradford
Saturday 10th October 2026

Requiem in a Day - in association with Bradford Chorale



paris

Paris
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th October 2026

Requiem weekend in Paris - come and sing at The American Cathedral