England, My England

Thomas Bullard (Performer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), Edward Elgar (Composer), John [Composer] Goss (Composer), Thomas [Composer] Tallis (Composer), John Rutter (Composer), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Henry Balfour Gardiner (Composer), William [Composer] Byrd (Composer), Edward Miller (Composer), Charles Villiers Stanford (Composer), Henry Purcell (Composer), William H. Harris (Composer), Edward Bairstow (Composer), Robert Parsons (Composer), Louis Bourgeois (Composer), Hubert Parry (Composer), Gustav Holst (Composer), John Tavener (Composer), William Henry Monk (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Thomas Bullard
• Composer: George Frederick Handel, Edward Elgar, John [Composer] Goss, Thomas [Composer] Tallis, John Rutter, et al.
• Audio CD (August 11, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B002AS5IMU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,910 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #10 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Odes
  • #15 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Songs & Lieder > Madrigals
  • #38 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Magnificats

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, January 29, 2010

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: England, My England (Audio CD)

ENGLAND'S MOST FAMOUS CHURCH CHOIR PRESENTS AN EXCELLENT COMPILATION!

This two CD two hour thirty-two minute recording was releaed by EMI Classics in July, 2009. It includes a wide variety of mostly sacred music that offers motets, ancient and modern, well-known psalms and favorite hymns and pieces made recognisable through their association with key English historical events. The majority of the selections are conducted by Stephen Cleobury (conductor of the choir since 1982), several by David Willcocks (1957-1973) and only two by Philip Ledger (1974-1982). Since all the selections are listed on the website I will mention only some of them in order to make you aware that they do fall into certain categories, although not as they are presented on the recordings.

There are, for example, many old favorite traditional hymns such as : 'All People that on Earth do Dwell'(Vaughan Williams arrangement of the Old Hundredth), 'Abde with Me', 'Praise my soul, the king of Heaven'. Also we hear from Evensong 'Drop, drop slow tears' and 'The Day that thou gavest Lord, is ended'.

Such Liturgical Pieces as: Rutter's 'Pie Jesu & Requiem aeternam', Byrd's 'Ave Verum Corpus' and Britten's 'Jubilate Deo'. One of my personal favorites is Vaughan William's great 'Mass in G minor' represented here by the stunningly beautiful 'Kyrie'.

Of course, one might expect to hear something from that honorary Englishman, Handel, and his 'Zadok the Priest' opens up CD 1 in a glorious fashion. Another Coronation anthem is Parry's 'I was glad' and his ever-popular 'Jerusalem'. Holst is well represented by his patriotic 'I Vow to thee, o country'.

Some others that I take note of for the mellifluous sound and moving interpretation on the part of the choir: Tallis' exquisite 'O Nata Lux de Lumine'. There are a few non-sacred pieces, two of which are: Purcell's 'Come Ye sons of Art' and Delius' 'To be sung on the Water'.

This is indeed a compilation of some of the greatest and most uplifting music written in England and performed by the country's most skilled church choir. I found it difficult, though I was familiar with all of the selections that are on various recordings, to absorb the entire recordings at one time; it's a lot of music, and if you are not familiar with some of them, perhaps listening in small doses is best; but to each his own listening way!

QUOTATION FROM GRAMOPHONE: " I readily admit to being moved to tears on first hearing this disc (Credo), and innumerable playing subsequently have not fully innured me from the emotional impact of these intense performances of profoundly beautiful music."

I was not moved to tears, but it is nonetheless a superior collection, and is a good representation of the varied performance through the years of this amazing consistently fine choir.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, Jerusalem at King's, June 5, 2010

By 

Bach Forever (Northern California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: England, My England (Audio CD)

As always, the King's College Choir is at the peak of the musical experience. This recording of English Anthems is no exception. The boys sing with the purest sound complimented by the organ and the rare acoustic if the Chapel at King's College. I have been a devoted follower of the Choir since my days of Argo LPs. This CD is a welcome addition to my collection.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Sceptered Isle is almost as good as Rule Britainnia!, January 7, 2010

By 

Kenmore Emerson "Britannia Rules" (New York,NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: England, My England (Audio CD)

A bit too holy for me, but hey
I still listen to Rule Britannia
when I think of
This Sceptered Isle
I still call home
after leaving 13 generations ago