The New Novello Book of Short & Easy Anthems

This book – edited by David Hill, the Principal Conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum – offers a new and generous selection of works for all occasions and times of year – either for use as introits or communion motets – that require minimal rehearsal time. While a few of the pieces may be well-known, such as Richard Lloyd’s View me, Lord, there are many new works in this collection. All have been chosen with ease and speed of learning in mind. Some works such as Benjamin Britten’s Corpus Christi Carol and Rupert Jeffcoat’s ethereal Weigh my heart are for unison voices. Others, such as Alan Bullard’s Blest are the pure in heart call for reduced numbers of vocal parts, and many require only occasional simple four-part singing.

 

Several anthems provide interesting substitutes for other more well-known works. Those looking for an alternative to Henry Walford Davies’ God be in my head will find two contrasting versions here by David Briggs and Herbert Howells. Peter Miller’s beautiful anthems Lord, I am not worthy to receive you and Draw near with faith can be used as an alternative to the Agnus Dei or as effective communion anthems in their own right. Heaven, by Andrew Wells, with its optional solo quartet, offers an easy yet dramatic way to use the space of the church.

 

Some pieces provide useful anthems where there can appear to be a shortage of simpler works. James Davy’s And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares is the perfect introit for Rogation Sunday, and Arthur Hutchings’ infectiously boisterous God is gone up deserves to be better known as an Ascension Day anthem. Martin Baker’s Christus vincit is a triumphant plainsong setting suitable for the Feast of  Christ the King.

 

Full Contents:

 

Adam lay ibounden – Andrew Cusworth
Almighty God, which hast me brought – Thomas Ford
And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares – James Davy
Blessing – Ralph Allwood
Blest are the pure in heart – Alan Bullard
Christus vincit – Martin Baker
Corpus Christi Carol – Benjamin Britten
Cradle Song – Ashley Grote
Crux fidelis – Matthew Owens
Draw near with faith – Peter Miller
Es ist nun aus mit meinem Leben – Johann Christoph Bach
For the Fallen – David Terry
God be in my head – David Briggs
God be in my head – Herbert Howells
God is gone up – Arthur Hutchings
Hear my voice, O Lord – Rupert Jeffcoat
Heaven – Andrew Wells
I sing of a maiden – Lennox Berkeley
In monte Oliveti – Anton Bruckner
In the departure of the Lord – John Bull
The Lord bless you and keep you – Dan Locklair
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you – Peter Miller
The Lord’s Prayer – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Miserere mei – Henry Purcell
Mother of God, here I stand – John Tavener
My Jesu, sleep – Adam Harvey
O for a lay! – Charles Wood
O salutaris Hostia – David Terry
O salutaris Hostia – James Davy
A Prayer of King Henry VI – Henry Ley
The Two Adams – Christopher Borrett
A Thin Place – Jonathan Wikeley
Tu es Petrus – Andrew Wells
View me, Lord – Richard Lloyd
Weigh my heart – Rupert Jeffcoat
Why fum’th in fight – Thomas Tallis

– Orlando Gibbons