Ruth McCall

Composer and Musician

What is your musical background?

I completed an Honours degree in singing at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide, and from there I joined the Song Company, where I sang soprano with them for 14 years. I was privileged to be involved in many different types of programs and styles of music, and to meet singers and children and audiences all around the world. I learn the piano when I was young, so that has helped me with my music-making, teaching and accompanying.
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What is your advice to singers performing your works?

Pay attention to detail; especially dynamics and tempo, and if your choir needs to adapt the score and make some changes, then go for it!

ruth@singscore.com.au

ruth.mccall@hotmail.com

 

What are your favourite pieces you’ve composed?

My most popular piece is a reworking of Waltzing Matilda, but I am pleased with my versions of Agnus Dei and Sanctus. A long-term project of mine is to finish writing a Latin Mass for choirs, soloists and orchestra. A bunch of musicians and choirs got together to make a protest video of the Skye Boat song, and I am proud about that for a different reason.

Find songs by Ruth:

Agnus Dei (SSATBarB with optional piano)

All the whales will sing (SA with piano)

Away in a Manger (SSATBarB)

Bound for South Australia (SSATBarB)

Cockles and Mussels (SSA with piano)

Cockels and Mussels (SSATBarB with oboe and piano)

Christmas Time (Unison or 2-part treble with piano and percussion)

Dome (SSAA with piano)

Epitaph (SSAATTBB)

Gravity (unison with piano with backing track)

Herb Soup (two-part treble with piano and shaker)

I’m a Spy (two-part treble with piano, and piano backing track)

Inheritance (SSAATTBB)

Inner City Nocturne (SSAATTBB)

Snow Haiku (2-part treble with piano, and piano backing track)

To a Grateful World (SA with piano)

To a Grateful World (2-parts with piano and solo instrument)

Waltzing Matilda (SSAA)

Waltzing Matilda (SSATBarB)

Waltzing Matilda (TTBarB)

Waltzing Matilda (SATB)

A Christmas Lullaby (SSABar with piano)

Click go the Shears (SATB with piano)

Click go the Shears (TTBarB)

Christmas Time (two-parts with piano)

Happy Panda (unison with piano, and piano backing track)

Hear the Songs (unison with piano)

Jingle Bells (2-part treble with piano)

Kyrie (SSATBarB with organ and violin)

Love is Born (SSATBarB)

My Heart is Alive (unison/2-part treble with piano)

Sacred Lotus (SA choir with piano)

Sea Song (two-part treble with piano, and piano backing track)

Silent Night Smooth Funk (SATB)

Sanctus (SSATBarB with piano)

Skye Boat Song Lament (SSATBarB with piano)

Skye Boat Song Lament (SSAA with piano and optional strings)

Summer Christmas (unison with piano, and piano backing track)

The Cuckoo (SSATBarB with alto recorder)

The Darkest Midnight (SSATBarB)

The Duck (SSATBarB)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (SA with piano, and piano backing track)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (SSATBarB)

We Wish you a Merry Christmas (SSATBarB)

The Duck Video

Waltzing Matilda Video

Skye Boat Song Video

Testimonial

Ruth McCall is a composer who applies to her compositions the most refined sensibilities of her extensive experience as an outstanding performer. Her works are clever, filled with humour, and her innate musicality always shines through. This repertoire is eminently performable and deserves wide exposure!

John Davis, the Australian Music Centre