What’s on Great Sacred Music, Sunday, October 11, 2015

08:00:51
Joseph Parry, with descant by Richard Marlow: Jesu, Lover of my soul
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Richard Marlow

 

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Alma Redemptoris Mater
Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips

 

Claude Balbastre: Au jo deu de pubelle
Jacques van Ootmerssen, organ
1772 Robustelly organ in Sint Lambertus, Helmond, The Netherlands

 

The text “Jesu, Lover of my soul” was written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and is

set to Parry’s tune “Aberystwyth”. We continue our survey of the 300 motets of Palestrina

with his setting of the Marian hymn Alma Redemptoris Mater (Loving Mother of our Saviour).

French composer and keyboardist Claude Balbastre (1724–1799) was at one point organist of

Notre Dame Cathedral and the Chapelle Royale.

 

08:11:11
Francis Jackson: Jubilate Deo in G
Choir of York Minster, Philip Moore
John Scott Whitely, organ

 

Hieronymus Praetorius: O quam pulchra es
Balthasar-Neumann-Chor, Pablo Heras-Casado

 

J.S. Bach: Chorale Prelude “Alle Menschen mussen sterben”, BWV 643
Michael Murray, organ
Walcker Organ at Metheun Hall

 

Dr. Francis Jackson (1917-) was organist of York Minster from 1946 to 1982.
German composer Hieronymus Praetorius (1560–1629) was not related to the more

famous Michael Praetorius. His motet “O quam pulchra es” comes from Cantiones novae

officiosae punlished in Hamburg in 1625. The Walcker Organ was imported from Germany

in the 1860’s for Boston Music Hall. Fashions changed and eventually the organ was removed

and sold several times. Thankfully it finally ended up in Methuen Memorial Music Hall where

has been lovingly maintained ever since. 

 

08:22:14
Giacomo Puccini: Salve Regina
Christine Brewer, soprano; Paul Jacobs, organ
Christine Brewer and Paul Jacobs are GRAMMY Award winners.

 

Anton Bruckner: Tota pulchra es
Kammerchor Lienz, Artur Gutwenger
Elmar Tonig, tenor; Mathias Thum, organ

 

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford: Prelude on a Theme of Orlando Gibbons
Jennifer Bate, organ
Harrison & Harrison organ in St. James’ Church, Muswell Hill

 

Italian composer Giacomo Puccini is perhaps best known for his operas.

Fortunately he also wrote some fine songs for solo voice of which his “Salve Regina” is

one. We continue our survey of the motets of symphonic composer Anton Bruckner. Most

of these sacred works date from his time as organist of the monastery in Sankt Florian. English

organist Jennifer Bate (1944-) is the daughter of organist H. A. Bate.

 

08:36:03
William Byrd: O Lord my God
Vienna Vocal Consort

 

Herbert Howells: Te Deum, “Collegium Regale”
Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, John Scott
Christopher Dearnley, organ

 

César Franck: Pièce Héroïque
Jan Kraybill, organ
2011 Casavant organ in Kauffman Performing Arts Center, Kansas City, Missouri

 

English Tudor composer William Byrd (c. 1540-1623) was organist of Lincoln Cathedral.

Herbert Howells’ setting of the “Te Deum” is part of a set of canticles for the morning and

evening services which he wrote for King’s College, Cambridge in 1944. Organist Jan Kraybill

earned her doctorate in organ performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City

Conservatory of Music and Dance. She is the Conservator of the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant

organ in Kansas City’s Helzberg Hall.

 

09:00:21
J.S. Bach: Cantata 5, “Wo soll ich fliehen hin”
Holland Boys’ Choir; Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink
Ruth Holton, soprano; Sytse Buwalde, alto; 
Nico van der Meel, tenor; Bas Ramselaar, bass

 

The German translates as “Where shall I flee to?” The cantata begins with a short sinfonia after

which the chorus sings the chorale tune. This is one of the very few instances in Bach’s cantata

ouevre where he assigns a stunning obbligato role to the viola. The cantata was first performed

in Leipzig on October 15, 1724.

 

09:24:21
Charles Martin Loeffler: Psalm CXXXVII
John Oliver Chorale and Orchestra, John Oliver

 

German-born Loeffler (1861-1935) was Assistant Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

from 1882-1903. Became a U.S. citizen in 1887.

 

09:36:56
Gioachino Rossini: Petite Messe solennelle
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus; Nettle-Markham Piano Duo, Simon Halsey
Peter King, harmonium

 

This is Italian comic opera composer Rossini’s original version of Petite Messe Sollenelle which he scored

for two pianos and harmonium. He later scored the work for orchestra, chorus and soloists.