What is MuseScore?
MuseScore is a music notation programme (or score-writing software). It is entirely free to download and use, and there are versions to run on Windows, Mac and Linux. You can download MuseScore from their website at musescore.org.
Why should I bother with MuseScore?
Let's run through a few good reasons:
- MuseScore's full version is entirely free to download and use: it's freeware
- MuseScore has full versions (free) for Windows, Mac or Linux
- MuseScore also has a Player app (small charge) for iPhone, iPad, Android and Kindle
- MuseScore allows you to play the practice files for our choir
- MuseScore can slow down the playback to help you learn gradually
- MuseScore can emphasize one voice part (e.g. Alto) and quieten the others
- MuseScore shows you a moving cursor as it plays, note by note (never get lost)
- MuseScore allows you to notate your own music: it's a professional-level score-writer
Where can I find out more?
There is quite a good article about MuseScore on Wikipedia. And the website at musescore.org provides a lot of background and history.
How about the choir's practice files?
The choir's own practice files for MuseScore are in a special compressed format with a file suffix of *.mscz. You will find the files available for download in the table further down.
What if I need help with MuseScore?
Because MuseScore is freeware, it has a large and helpful online community. You can start by searching the MuseScore forums, where users post their questions - and get rapid answers. MuseScore can be described as a very friendly, cooperative and professional website.
Practice Files for MuseScore
Each of these files can be downloaded in MuseScore format by right-clicking and choosing "Save link as...". You can download your own part with one voice emphasized (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) and/or the full choir sound with voices equally balanced (All Voices).
The upload is still incomplete: more files will be ready soon...
| Ref | Who | Title of Carol | Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Bass | All Voices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Solo, Choir, All |
Once in royal David's city (arr. David Willcocks) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| B | All | Come, thou long-expected Jesus | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| C | Choir | O Men from the Fields (Arnold Cooke) |
unison | MSCZ | |||
| D | All | It came upon the midnight clear | unison | MSCZ | |||
| E | Choir | Adam lay ybounden (Ord) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| F | Choir | Love came down at Christmas | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| G | Choir | Tryste Noel (Terry) |
MSCZ |
MSCZ |
MSCZ |
MSCZ |
MSCZ |
| H | All | Of the Father's love begotten | unison | MSCZ | |||
| I | Choir | Infant Holy (Archer) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| J | Choir | Angel Tidings (Rutter) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| K | All | What Child is this? (Greensleeves, arr. Stainer) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| L | Choir | In the bleak mid-winter (Harold Darke) |
MSCZ | ||||
| M | All | While shepherds watched their flocks | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| N | Choir | O Holy Night (Adam) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| O | All | Silent Night (arr. Colin Mawby) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| P | Choir | Rejoice and be merry (Trad, arr. Reginald Jacques) |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| Q | All | See amid the winter's snow | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| R | Choir | Rocking (Little Jesus, sweetly sleep) |
Solo MSCZ Soprano MSCZ |
MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ | MSCZ |
| S | All | O come all ye faithful (traditional) |
|||||
| T | All | Hark the herald angels sing (arr. David Willcocks) |
|||||
| Ref | Who | Title of Carol | Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Bass | All Voices |
