Ian Carpenter is a composer of choral, vocal and piano music.
Based in Bristol, Ian Carpenter writes mainly choral, vocal and piano music, some of which is published by Boosey & Hawkes. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and BBC One, and appears on several commercial discs. One well-known work is Set me as a seal upon thine heart, written in 2005 for the wedding of Winston Churchill’s great-grandson. He holds an MA in Composition from Bristol University and a BSc and PhD in Engineering from Durham University.
Featured work
Set me as a seal upon thine heart
This is a gentle and lyrical love song. The opening phrase is sung in syncopation between the upper and lower voices. The central section features undulating vocal lines on "Many waters cannot quench love" before the opening music returns with an added soprano solo, gently subsiding on the words "Love is strong as death".
Featured recording
Visions of Peace
The debut CD of Exultate Singers, released in 2005, features a selection of soothing choral music from across the ages. Contemporary choral classics by Lauridsen, Manz, Whitacre and Tavener join the first recordings of Christ has no body now but yours by David Ogden and Set me as a seal by Ian Carpenter.
Ian Carpenter's Set me as a seal upon thine heart ... makes an attractive impression, the rising contours of the opening melody giving the right uplifting mood for a wedding, and emphasis on the words 'love is strong as death' as the choir divides into seven parts which is entirely appropriate for such an occasion.
David Lindley Organists' Review, Dec 2015
