Great Sacred Music airs every Sunday from 8-11 a.m. eastern time on The Classical Station.
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08:00:48
Matthew Larkin: Adam Lay Y Bounden
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Vancouver, Rupert Lang
Matthew Larkin: Adam Lay Y Bounden
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Vancouver, Rupert Lang
Orlando Gibbons: This is the record of John
University of California Berkeley Chamber Chorus;
Berkeley Festival Consort of Viols, John Butt
Jeffrey Thomas, tenor
University of California Berkeley Chamber Chorus;
Berkeley Festival Consort of Viols, John Butt
Jeffrey Thomas, tenor
Johannes Brahms: Es ist ein’ ros’ entsprungen
David Hill, organ
Willis organ in Westminster Cathedral
David Hill, organ
Willis organ in Westminster Cathedral
Matthew Larkin (1963-) was a chorister at St. George’s Cathedral, Kingston, Ontario.
He is currently director of music at Ottawa’s Christ Church Cathedral. Orlando Gibbons (1585-1623)
was a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge. Brahms modeled what few organ works he wrote along
classical lines. This choral prelude on ‘Lo, how a rose e’er blooming’ dates from 1896.
08:13:42
Arvo Part: O Morgenstern
Polyphony, Stephen Layton
Arvo Part: O Morgenstern
Polyphony, Stephen Layton
Benjamin Britten: A hymn to the Virgin
Polyphony, Stephen Layton
Polyphony, Stephen Layton
Louis-Claude Daquin: Noel No. 6
Marie-Claire Alain, organ
Arvo Part (1935-) is an Estonian composer who writes principally in a minimalist
style. Benjamin Britten’s A Hymn to the Virgin dates from 1930. Marie-Claire Alain
died earlier this year. Her playing of a Noel recalls her superb technique and her ever
present sparkle in equal measure.
08:26:54
Edvard Grieg: Ave, maris stella
Polyphony, Stephen Layton
Edvard Grieg: Ave, maris stella
Polyphony, Stephen Layton
Franz Biebl: Ave Maria
Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, Robert Shaw
Nannette Soles, alto; Sean Mayer, tenor;
Charles Sprawls, bass
Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, Robert Shaw
Nannette Soles, alto; Sean Mayer, tenor;
Charles Sprawls, bass
Alexandre Guilmant: Noel languedocien, Communion No. 2 in F
minor, Op. 60, Robert Delcamp, organ
Casavant organ of All Saints’ Chapel, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee
minor, Op. 60, Robert Delcamp, organ
Casavant organ of All Saints’ Chapel, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee
Stephen Layton (1966-) was a chorister at King’s College. He is presently Director of Music
at Trinity College, Cambridge. Franz Biebl (1906-2001) wrote his setting of the Ave Maria
for a firemen’s chorus in Germany in 1964. Noels were an entertaining feature of Christmas
services in the French baroque.
08:42:56
English traditional: Coventry Carol
Cambridge Singers, John Rutter
English traditional: Coventry Carol
Cambridge Singers, John Rutter
Harold Darke: In the bleak midwinter
Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral; English Chamber Orchestra
John Scott
Anthony Way, treble
Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral; English Chamber Orchestra
John Scott
Anthony Way, treble
Philip Moore: Fantasia on Greensleeves
Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault, organ
Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault, organ
Coventry Carol is one of those long-suffering English carols which seems to be able
to withstand just about any treatment composers and performers happen to throw at it.
In the capable hands of John Rutter and his Cambridge Singers it shines like the jewel it
really is. For me Christmas is incomplete without Harold Darke’s In the Bleak Midwinter being
sung at least three times over the course of the festival. John Scott’s recording is about as fine
as any I know. The Chenaults are the organ world’s premier duo.
08:58:40
J.S. Bach: Cantata 147, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben”
Hungarian Radio Chorus; Failoni Chamber Orchestra, Budapest
Matyas Antal
Ingrid Kertesi, soprano; Judit Nemeth, alto;
Jozsef Mukk, tenor; Istvan Gati, bass
J.S. Bach: Cantata 147, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben”
Hungarian Radio Chorus; Failoni Chamber Orchestra, Budapest
Matyas Antal
Ingrid Kertesi, soprano; Judit Nemeth, alto;
Jozsef Mukk, tenor; Istvan Gati, bass
We get to hear the much loved “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” not once, but twice in cantata 147.
09:30:08
Thomas Tallis: Missa Puer natus est nobis
Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips
Thomas Tallis: Missa Puer natus est nobis
Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips
Missa Puer natus est nobis dates from 1554 when the Roman rite was re-established under Queen Mary.
09:55:35
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Hodie (A Christmas Cantata)
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus;
Choristers of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Richard Hickox
Elizabeth Gale, soprano; Robert Tear, tenor;
Stephen Roberts, baritone
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Hodie (A Christmas Cantata)
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus;
Choristers of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Richard Hickox
Elizabeth Gale, soprano; Robert Tear, tenor;
Stephen Roberts, baritone
Hodie is one of Vaughan Williams’ last compositions. It dates from 1953-54. It consists of sixteen
movements. Texts are a mix of biblical and poetry.
10:55:16
Louis Claude Daquin: Noel Suisse (Swiss Carol for Organ)
Christopher Herrick, organ
The organ of the Church of St. Remy de Dieppe, France
Louis Claude Daquin: Noel Suisse (Swiss Carol for Organ)
Christopher Herrick, organ
The organ of the Church of St. Remy de Dieppe, France
Christopher Herrick (1942-) studied conducting at the Royal College of Music with Sir Adrian Boult.
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