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 for £3 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 available 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)
  • optional parts for string quintet
Performances

Performances in 2026

April 18 Choral Workshop with Lucis St Stephen's Church, Bath tickets
May 9 Come and Sing Christchurch Priory, Dorset tickets
May 15 Choir of Royal Holloway & Southern Sinfonia London Festival of Contemporary Church Music, St Paul's Knightsbridge tickets
May 16 West Dorset Singers & Broadoak Choir Bridport URC, Dorset tickets
May 16 Vox Populi & Vox Anima Chamber Choir, dir. James Meaders St Lawrence's Church, Mereworth, Kent details
May 24 KanSynergie and friends, dir. Matthew Coleridge Dol de Bretagne Cathedral, Brittany (EU premiere) tickets
May 31 Trinity United Methodist Church Choir, dir. Ryan Jenkins Columbus, Ohio (US premiere)
June 6 Come and Sing Pershore Abbey, Worcs tickets
June 13 Lucis / Vox Anima London dir. Francis Faux Rochester Cathedral tickets
June 27 Lucis, dir. Francis Faux Malmesbury Abbey tickets
July 4 Halifax Choral Society and friends, dir. Matthew Coleridge Halifax Minster Summer Festival tickets
September 19 Come and Sing with Walton Voices and Leatherhead Choral Society (Surrey) tickets
September 26 Come and Sing Shrewsbury Abbey, Shropshire tickets
November 14 Leatherhead Choral Society, dir. Ian Assersohn The Old Barn Hall, Leatherhead tickets
November 28 Walton Voices, dir. Jonathan Kilhams St Mary's Church, Sunbury-on-Thames tickets

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

shrewsbury

Walton Voices & Leatherhead Choral
Saturday 19th September 2026

Come and Sing The Breath of Life, hosted by Walton Voices and Leatherhead Choral Society



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 beautiful Shipley, hosted by local chamber choir Bradford Chorale



paris

Paris
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th October 2026

Requiem weekend in Paris - come and sing Requiem at beautiful The American Cathedral in the City of Light



wells

Wells Bishop's Palace
Sunday 28th February 2027

A cappella singing day with Matthew Coleridge and Francis Faux in the medieval chapel at Wells Bishop's Palace



bruges

Bruges & Ghent
Weds 7th - Sat 10th April 2027

Requiem mini-break, performing at Bruges Cathedral and St Nicholas Church Ghent



edinburgh

Edinburgh
Sat 24th - Sun 25th April 2027

The Breath of Life weekend at St Giles Cathedral on Edinburgh's Royal Mile



coutances

Normandy
Fri 20th - Mon 23rd August 2027

Requiem weekend at Coutances Cathedral



new york

New York
Fri 19th - Sun 21st November 2027

Sing Requiem in New York's Carnegie Hall