Ailsa Dixon's scores are published by Composers Edition
The majority of Ailsa Dixon's works are now published and available for purchase. The remaining songs will be published by the end of November 2025. Click HERE for details and links to purchase individual works.
STRING QUARTET
Nocturnal Scherzo — first performed by the Brindisi Quartet, Little Missenden Festival, 1986. Click here to listen to archival recording. Latest (high-res) recording on 'The Spirit of Love: Chamber Music by Ailsa Dixon', by the Villiers Quartet, released on Resonus Classics in 2025 - available on CD and all major streaming platforms.
The 'lost' Scherzo - written in 1955, this manuscript came to light in 2020 and is included on the Villiers Quartet's 2025 recording of Ailsa Dixon's chamber music, as detailed above.
Sohrab and Rustum — quartet movement inspired by Matthew Arnold’s poem. First performed by the De Beauvoir Quartet, London, 1992 - Click here to listen to archival recording. Latest (high-res) recording on 'The Spirit of Love: Chamber Music by Ailsa Dixon', by the Villiers Quartet, released on Resonus Classics in 2025,
Variations on Love Divine — first performed for private recording by the Rasumovsky Quartet, 1996 - Click here to listen to original recording with spoken movement titles. Latest (high-res) recording on 'The Spirit of Love: Chamber Music by Ailsa Dixon', by the Villiers Quartet, released on Resonus Classics in 2025, as detailed above.
VOCAL
I will lift up mine eyes — anthem for high soprano and piano or organ. Click here to listen. Also arranged for piano and violin.
Shining Cold — vocalise for high soprano, ondes martenot, viola and cello. First performed by Sally Harrison, Cynthia Millar and members of the Brindisi Quartet, Little Missenden Festival, 1986. Included on the Villiers Quartet's 2025 recording of Ailsa Dixon's chamber music, with Lucy Cox (soprano) and Charlie Draper (ondes martenot).
The Spirit of Love — 3 songs for soprano and string quartet. First performed by Lucy Cox and the Villiers Quartet, St George's Bristol, February 2020. Included as the title work on the Villiers Quartet's 2025 recording of Ailsa Dixon's chamber music, with Lucy Cox (soprano).
Songs of Faith and Joy — a cycle of 5 songs on Biblical texts for soprano and guitar. First performed Pallant House, Chichester, 1988 by the composer and her husband guitarist Brian Dixon. Subsequent performances by Emily Gray with Gerard Cousins (2018) and James Gilchrist with Mark Eden (2024). Click here to listen to 'When the Lord turned again'; click here to listen to 'I was glad' sung by Lotte Betts Dean at the St Magnus International Festival.
Two Shakespeare Sonnets — for tenor, soprano and piano. First performed by Ian Partridge and Lynne Dawson, Little Missenden Festival, 1989
The Kingdom of Heaven — completion of an unfinished composition by Pat Stephens, for tenor, soprano and piano. First performed by Ian Partridge and Lynne Dawson, Little Missenden Festival, 1989
Cuckoo, come! for soprano and piano. Click here to listen to a performance by Kate Semmens and Steven Devine.
New Home for soprano and piano
Come away, Death - song for tenor or soprano and piano; stage version (for Twelfth Night) with guitar accompaniment. First performed on stage at Lord Williams's School, Thame c.1980. Click here to listen.
February — song for mezzo soprano and piano, first performed at a concert of Ailsa Dixon's works at St Mary's College, Durham.
Song of the Mad Prince — song for tenor or soprano and piano. Click here to listen to a performance by Kate Semmens and Steven Devine.
The Last Days, Rufus, and The Tree — 3 songs for baritone and piano
2 Songs for Sarah — soprano and piano (or guitar)
Fire and Water - duets for soprano, alto and piano, part of an unfinished cycle, The Elements
CHAMBER
3 fugues on Biblical Subjects - first performed in a multi-tracked recording on lutes by Lynda Sayce, 2020. Click here to listen. Also arranged for viols; the first fugue has been recorded by Fretwork - click here to listen.
PIANO
Airs of the Seasons — sonata in 4 movements for piano duet (4 hands) - first performed by Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa at St George's Bristol, 2018 and Wye Valley Music in 2019. Click here to listen to a performance by Jong Gyung Park and Anthony Zerpa Falcon
CHORAL
These things shall be — anthem for a capella choir (SATB with divisi), setting verses by John Addington Symonds. First performed by the London Oriana Choir, 5 July 2017, at the Cutty Sark, Greenwich.
Click here to watch the video: vimeo.com/229386773
Lord, who shall dwell under your protection (Psalm 15) - anthem for a capella choir (SATB with divisi)
OPERA
Letter to Philemon — two-act chamber opera about an episode in the life of St Paul, scored for 8 soloists, small chorus, string-quartet, flute and guitar. First performed Aston Rowant church, 1984
The Tailor of Gloucester — mini-opera for children based on Beatrix Potter’s tale, for soloists, narrators, piano and guitars. First performed Lord Williams’ School, Thame, 1984
The majority of Ailsa Dixon's works are now published and available for purchase. The remaining songs will be published by the end of November 2025. Click HERE for details and links to purchase individual works.
STRING QUARTET
Nocturnal Scherzo — first performed by the Brindisi Quartet, Little Missenden Festival, 1986. Click here to listen to archival recording. Latest (high-res) recording on 'The Spirit of Love: Chamber Music by Ailsa Dixon', by the Villiers Quartet, released on Resonus Classics in 2025 - available on CD and all major streaming platforms.
The 'lost' Scherzo - written in 1955, this manuscript came to light in 2020 and is included on the Villiers Quartet's 2025 recording of Ailsa Dixon's chamber music, as detailed above.
Sohrab and Rustum — quartet movement inspired by Matthew Arnold’s poem. First performed by the De Beauvoir Quartet, London, 1992 - Click here to listen to archival recording. Latest (high-res) recording on 'The Spirit of Love: Chamber Music by Ailsa Dixon', by the Villiers Quartet, released on Resonus Classics in 2025,
Variations on Love Divine — first performed for private recording by the Rasumovsky Quartet, 1996 - Click here to listen to original recording with spoken movement titles. Latest (high-res) recording on 'The Spirit of Love: Chamber Music by Ailsa Dixon', by the Villiers Quartet, released on Resonus Classics in 2025, as detailed above.
VOCAL
I will lift up mine eyes — anthem for high soprano and piano or organ. Click here to listen. Also arranged for piano and violin.
Shining Cold — vocalise for high soprano, ondes martenot, viola and cello. First performed by Sally Harrison, Cynthia Millar and members of the Brindisi Quartet, Little Missenden Festival, 1986. Included on the Villiers Quartet's 2025 recording of Ailsa Dixon's chamber music, with Lucy Cox (soprano) and Charlie Draper (ondes martenot).
The Spirit of Love — 3 songs for soprano and string quartet. First performed by Lucy Cox and the Villiers Quartet, St George's Bristol, February 2020. Included as the title work on the Villiers Quartet's 2025 recording of Ailsa Dixon's chamber music, with Lucy Cox (soprano).
Songs of Faith and Joy — a cycle of 5 songs on Biblical texts for soprano and guitar. First performed Pallant House, Chichester, 1988 by the composer and her husband guitarist Brian Dixon. Subsequent performances by Emily Gray with Gerard Cousins (2018) and James Gilchrist with Mark Eden (2024). Click here to listen to 'When the Lord turned again'; click here to listen to 'I was glad' sung by Lotte Betts Dean at the St Magnus International Festival.
Two Shakespeare Sonnets — for tenor, soprano and piano. First performed by Ian Partridge and Lynne Dawson, Little Missenden Festival, 1989
The Kingdom of Heaven — completion of an unfinished composition by Pat Stephens, for tenor, soprano and piano. First performed by Ian Partridge and Lynne Dawson, Little Missenden Festival, 1989
Cuckoo, come! for soprano and piano. Click here to listen to a performance by Kate Semmens and Steven Devine.
New Home for soprano and piano
Come away, Death - song for tenor or soprano and piano; stage version (for Twelfth Night) with guitar accompaniment. First performed on stage at Lord Williams's School, Thame c.1980. Click here to listen.
February — song for mezzo soprano and piano, first performed at a concert of Ailsa Dixon's works at St Mary's College, Durham.
Song of the Mad Prince — song for tenor or soprano and piano. Click here to listen to a performance by Kate Semmens and Steven Devine.
The Last Days, Rufus, and The Tree — 3 songs for baritone and piano
2 Songs for Sarah — soprano and piano (or guitar)
Fire and Water - duets for soprano, alto and piano, part of an unfinished cycle, The Elements
CHAMBER
3 fugues on Biblical Subjects - first performed in a multi-tracked recording on lutes by Lynda Sayce, 2020. Click here to listen. Also arranged for viols; the first fugue has been recorded by Fretwork - click here to listen.
PIANO
Airs of the Seasons — sonata in 4 movements for piano duet (4 hands) - first performed by Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa at St George's Bristol, 2018 and Wye Valley Music in 2019. Click here to listen to a performance by Jong Gyung Park and Anthony Zerpa Falcon
CHORAL
These things shall be — anthem for a capella choir (SATB with divisi), setting verses by John Addington Symonds. First performed by the London Oriana Choir, 5 July 2017, at the Cutty Sark, Greenwich.
Click here to watch the video: vimeo.com/229386773
Lord, who shall dwell under your protection (Psalm 15) - anthem for a capella choir (SATB with divisi)
OPERA
Letter to Philemon — two-act chamber opera about an episode in the life of St Paul, scored for 8 soloists, small chorus, string-quartet, flute and guitar. First performed Aston Rowant church, 1984
The Tailor of Gloucester — mini-opera for children based on Beatrix Potter’s tale, for soloists, narrators, piano and guitars. First performed Lord Williams’ School, Thame, 1984
