The English Anthem, Vol. 3 [Import]

Basil Harwood (Composer), Charles Villiers Stanford (Composer), John Tavener (Composer), Charles [Choral Composer] Wood (Composer), William H. Harris (Composer), Thomas Attwood (Composer), Samuel Wesley (Composer), Robert Saxton (Composer), William [composer] Walton (Composer), Gustav Holst (Composer), Hubert Parry (Composer), Edward Elgar (Composer), John Scott (Conductor), Andrew Lucas (Performer), Alan Green (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Andrew Lucas, Alan Green
• Conductor: John Scott
• Composer: Basil Harwood, Charles Villiers Stanford, John Tavener, Charles [Choral Composer] Wood, William H. Harris, et al.
• Audio CD (April 16, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000002ZRW
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,558 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. O how glorious

2. The Lord Is My Shepherd

3. Hymns (2) to the Mother of God, for chorus: No. 1, Hymn to the Mother of God

4. Expectans Expectavi

5. Faire Is the Heaven, for chorus

6. Come, Holy Ghost, hymn

7. In Exitu Israel

8. At the Round Earth's Imagined Corners

9. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, for chorus

10. Festival Choruses (3), for chorus & orchestra, Op. 36a, H. 134: No. 2, Turn back, O man

11. Songs of Farewell (6) for chorus: No. 4, There is an old belief

12. Give unto the Lord (Psalm 29), anthem for chorus, organ & orchestra ad lib, Op. 74

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying programme, January 7, 2001

By 

Mark Swinton - See all my reviews

This review is from: The English Anthem, Vol. 3 (Audio CD)

This third volume in the extremely successful "English Anthem" series stands out as being one of the best programmes devised for it.

St. Paul's Cathedral Choir recorded it at about the same time that they made their Kenneth Leighton disc, hence the featured treble soloist on both is Thomas Colwell. His voice is particularly arresting, for instance, at the opening of Thomas Attwood's "Come, Holy Ghost" - by far the simplest work on the disc, within the grasp of even the smallest of choirs. At the other end of the spectrum is Robert Saxton's "At the round earth's imagined corners," commissioned by the choir in the early 90s, which is surprisingly effective and accessible compared to some of his (and his contemporaries) other works. As always with this series, the choir make these contrasted simple and complex works sound effortless.

Other works on the programme include Basil Harwood's "O how glorious is the Kingdom," William Harris's evergreen "Faire is the heaven," William Walton's exquisite and much-loved setting of "Set me as a seal" and one of Hubert Parry's "Songs of Farewell" - in this case, "There is an old belief." John Tavener's "Hymn to the Mother of God" makes a good impression here, although it's a pity that it's companion "Hymn for the Dormition of the Mother of God" is absent - the two are always presented together on recordings and were first performed together liturgically. "Turn back, O man" by Gustav Holst receives a most stirring rendition. The disc ends with Edward Elgar's very fine, cantata-like setting of Psalm 29, "Give unto the Lord," written for first performance at St. Paul's and sounding particularly glorious in the vast resonance of the building under the care of John Scott and his forces.

A worthy companion to the others in the series: well-recorded, beautifully performed and ingeniously devised. This is cathedral music at its best.

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong singing, August 10, 2007

By 

Jon Hunt "musician, teacher" (Old Greenwich, Ct. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The English Anthem, Vol. 3 (Audio CD)

This disc, one of several in "The English Anthem" series, is of notable achievement. It is also unique for the diverse nature of the selections. There are standards such as Walton's "Set Me as a Seal" and the romantically dramatic "Expectans expectavi" of Charles Wood. A new anthem to me was the unusually precocious offering by Thomas Attwood, "Come, Holy Ghost", sounding much more mature than the times in which it was written. Yet, new pieces such as Robert Saxton's "At the round earth's imagined corners" reminded me that English choral composition is still wonderfully alive and beautiful.

The singing throughout is very good, although, as with many British choirs, the boy sopranos can often overwhelm. That said, this album is a treat for the ears and a lasting one for all to enjoy.