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Details
Format: Digital Audio CD
Label: PRO ORGANO
Catalog Number: CD 7208
Length: 74′ 07″
Tracks: 16
Organ: Father Henry Willis / Harrison
Venue: St Mary’s (Scottish Episcopal) Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland
Recorded: 06/15/2006
Released: 08/15/2006
Producer: Frederick Hohman
Notes Author: Ruaraidh Sutherland
Notes Language: English
Graphics Format: 12pp book, traycard, jewel box
UPC #: 636077720826
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One offering at AAM/ 2007 was a visit to St. Mary’s (Scottish Episcopal) Cathedral, where Simon Nieminski was a most gracious host; this disc presents a selections of anthems demonstrating the high level of musical performance at this memorable foundation.
The title work is an extended 15-minute festival work by Hubert Parry, employing a quartet of soloists and with a text selected from Job, Isaiah, and the Psalms, as well as by H. W. Baker. Much jubilant writing leads to the well-known hymn tune Laudate Dominum with just three of the verses found in The Hymnal 1982. The program continues with the aria Long since in Egypt’s pleasant land from Parry’s Judith, perhaps better known now as the hymn tune Repton. Other familiar works included are the Stanford O for a closer walk, Tallis Te lucid ante terminus, Purcell O God, thou art my God (continuing the hymn tune connection as it ends in Westminster Abbey), Byrd Christe qui lux es et dies, Bairstow Blessed City; Heavenly Salem and The King of love my Shepherd is, and Gardiner Evening Hymn (in contracts to the other Te lucis).
Director Nieminski appears as composer in a fascinating and highly energetic Hymn of St. Urith of Chittlehampton with Latin words from a manuscript at Trinity College, Cambridge, and as an arranger of the hymn Soldiers who are christ’s below to the tune we know as Orients parties – the militaristic words with jaunty music seem an odd combinations to me, but the piece is well-crafted. One of the lesser-known of the “school of Stanford” Charles Herbert Kitson, is heard here in a lovely miniature to the text Holy Father, cheer our way. Settings of Love divine, all loves excelling by Herbert Howells and Howard Goodall are a refreshing change from Hyfrydol, much as I love that ubiquitous tune. The Goodall, a gentle setting for trebles with piano, leads to an exultant ending on “Praise!” (The liner says that only verse 2 is used, but I hear all four).
St Mary’s is notable for being the first cathedral in the U.K. to offer girls scholarships to sing as trebles, and also (more recently) to provide alto choral scholarships and lay clerk positions to women as well as men. This choir has a warm, clean, rich sound with impeccable …..
Victor Hill – The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians – July / August 2007
01 • Hear my words, ye people • Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry • 15’12”
02 • Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land • Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry • 4’14”
03 • O for a closer walk with God • Sir Charles Villiers Stanford • 3’9″
04 • The Lord is my shepherd • Sir Lennox Berkeley • 4’1″
05 • Te lucis ante terminum • Thomas Tallis • 2’4″
06 • O God, thou art my God • Henry Purcell • 3’37”
07 • Christe, qui lux es et dies • William Byrd • 3’37”
08 • Holy Father, cheer our way • Charles Herbert Kitson • 2’53”
09 • Soldiers who are Christ’s below • arr. Simon Nieminski • 1’52”
10 • Love divine • Herbert Howells • 2’52”
11 • Love divine • Howard Goodall • 4’46”
12 • Hymn of St Urith of Chittlehampton • Simon Nieminski • 3’2″
13 • Jesu, grant me this I pray • Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow • 3’35”
14 • Blessed City, Heavenly Salem • Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow • 8’15”
15 • The King of love my Shepherd is • Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow • 5’17”
16 • Evening Hymn • Henry Balfour Gardiner • 5’38”
Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh
The Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral (Mother Church of the Diocese of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church) has been described by The Sunday Times as “one of the UK’s finest cathedral choirs.” It is unique in Scotland in maintaining a tradition of daily Anglican choral services. Learn more…
