The English Anthem, Vol. 2
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Robin (Greville) Holloway, Patrick Gowers, Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, William (James) Mathias, Edgar (Leslie) Bainton, Charles Villiers Stanford, Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Sir Edward C(uthbert) Bairstow, John Stainer, Jonathan Battishill, John (Pierre Herman) Joubert
Label: Hyperion
Magazine Review Date: 4/1992
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 74
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CDA66519
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| O Lord, look down from heaven |
Jonathan Battishill, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Jonathan Battishill, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Awake, awake, put on Thy strength, O Zion |
John Stainer, Composer
John Stainer, Composer |
| (3) Motets, Movement: Justorum animae |
Charles Villiers Stanford, Composer
Charles Villiers Stanford, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| And I saw a new heaven |
Edgar (Leslie) Bainton, Composer
Edgar (Leslie) Bainton, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| O Lorde, the maker of al thing |
John (Pierre Herman) Joubert, Composer
John (Pierre Herman) Joubert, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| As truly as God is our Father |
William (James) Mathias, Composer
John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir William (James) Mathias, Composer |
| Save us, O Lord |
Sir Edward C(uthbert) Bairstow, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Sir Edward C(uthbert) Bairstow, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| O Saviour of the world |
Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, Composer
Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Viri Galilaei |
Patrick Gowers, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Patrick Gowers, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Lord, what is man? |
Robin (Greville) Holloway, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Robin (Greville) Holloway, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Lo, the full, final sacrifice |
Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer
Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Composer or Director: Robin (Greville) Holloway, Patrick Gowers, Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, William (James) Mathias, Edgar (Leslie) Bainton, Charles Villiers Stanford, Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Sir Edward C(uthbert) Bairstow, John Stainer, Jonathan Battishill, John (Pierre Herman) Joubert
Label: Hyperion
Magazine Review Date: 4/1992
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: KA66519
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| O Lord, look down from heaven |
Jonathan Battishill, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Jonathan Battishill, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Awake, awake, put on Thy strength, O Zion |
John Stainer, Composer
John Stainer, Composer |
| (3) Motets, Movement: Justorum animae |
Charles Villiers Stanford, Composer
Charles Villiers Stanford, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| And I saw a new heaven |
Edgar (Leslie) Bainton, Composer
Edgar (Leslie) Bainton, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| O Lorde, the maker of al thing |
John (Pierre Herman) Joubert, Composer
John (Pierre Herman) Joubert, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| As truly as God is our Father |
William (James) Mathias, Composer
John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir William (James) Mathias, Composer |
| Save us, O Lord |
Sir Edward C(uthbert) Bairstow, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Sir Edward C(uthbert) Bairstow, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| O Saviour of the world |
Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, Composer
Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Viri Galilaei |
Patrick Gowers, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Patrick Gowers, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Lord, what is man? |
Robin (Greville) Holloway, Composer
John Scott, Conductor Robin (Greville) Holloway, Composer St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
| Lo, the full, final sacrifice |
Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer
Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Author:
St Paul's choir's ''English Anthem'' Vol. 1 ((CD) CDA66374, 9/90) contained several of the best-known: Blessed be the God and Father, Hail, gladdening light, Greater love hath no man and so forth. Vol. 2 comprises a number of less familiar works, with only Bairstow's Save us, O Lord drawn from the top ten. As in their previous recordings—and perhaps I might use the opportunity to remind readers of their Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis recitals, CDA66249 and CDA66305 (again Hyperion, 3/88 and 1/89), excellent discs both of them—the choir produces the right full-bodied sound to suit the building, and the building contributes its share too.
The selection here ranges from the late-eighteenth century to the present day, ending with three large-scale anthems (Gowers, Holloway and Finzi) and using the full resources of a great cathedral, with music for double-choir and, in one instance (Patrick Gowers's Viri Galilaei), the luxury of two organists. This, the organ duet, plays its part in a wide-ranging piece. It begins in mystic, subdued fashion with the organists holding quiet cluster-chords a la mode, with a strong rhythm and a broad, chorale-based melody. Robin Holloway'sLord, what is man? speaks with a distinctly individual voice despite the composer's belief, quoted in the booklet, that church music is there to be 'perceived rather than listened to': it is also, I imagine, not at all easy to sing, and the security of this performance affords another example of the skill with which cathedral choirs have learned to cope with the demands of modern choral writing. Going back in time, we find the two Victorians doing their age credit, Ouseley with his fine O Saviour of the world and Stainer at his most attractive and graceful in the movement from Awake, awake, put on thy strength. Most impressive to my mind, is the first work in the programme, the prayer set with such intensity of feeling and technical mastery by Jonathan Battishill. In its emotional use of polyphony, its concentration and steady growth, it is in direct line with the Purcell of Hear my prayer. Perhaps appreciation was aided by the portrait reproduced in the booklet: a florid face, heavy under the eyes, and an expression that suggests no great belief that things will get better. Poor fellow, he took to drink when his wife went off with an actor to Dublin, and though buried in St Paul's he never became organist there.'
The selection here ranges from the late-eighteenth century to the present day, ending with three large-scale anthems (Gowers, Holloway and Finzi) and using the full resources of a great cathedral, with music for double-choir and, in one instance (Patrick Gowers's Viri Galilaei), the luxury of two organists. This, the organ duet, plays its part in a wide-ranging piece. It begins in mystic, subdued fashion with the organists holding quiet cluster-chords a la mode, with a strong rhythm and a broad, chorale-based melody. Robin Holloway's
The English Anthem, Vol. 2
The English Anthem, Vol. 2
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