What’s on Great Sacred Music, Sunday, September 21, 2014

In case you cannot hear the show live, the playlist is on Spotify for you to enjoy: GSM – September 21, 2014

Don’t forget that we have more choral and organ music programmed on Sunday

evenings beginning at 10 p.m. eastern.

 

Rob

Rob Kennedy
Great Sacred Music
The Classical Station
http://theclassicalstation.org
……………………………

Francis Jackson: Tantum ergo
Choir of York Minster, Philip Moore

 

Gordon Jacob: Brother James’ Air
Clare College Chapel Choir, Timothy Brown
Dominic Wheeler, organ

 

Amy Beach: Prelude on an Old Folk Tune
Christa Rakich, organ
1933 Kilgen organ in St. Justin’s Church, Hartford, Connecticut

 

Dr. Francis Jackson (1917-) succeeded his teacher and mentor Sir Edward Bairstow

as the Organist of York Minster in 1946. He retired in 1982. Scottish hymn writer James

Leith Macbeth Bain (1860–1925) was known as Brother James. He wrote the hymn tune

we know as Brother James Air. Dr. Christa Rakich studied with Anton Heiller. She currently

is Artist-in-Residence at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brookline, Massachusetts.

 

08:16:43
George Rochberg: Behold, My Servant
William Ferris Chorale, Paul French

 

Henry Balfour Gardiner: Evening Hymn
Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, John Scott

 

J.P. Sweelinck: Praeludium in F
Jacques van Oortmerssen, organ
Jean-Francois Moreau organ in St.John’s Church, Netherlands

 

The Jewish High Holy Days begin at sundown on Wednesday, September 24. George Rochberg

composed “Behold, My Servant” on a commission from the Jewish Theological Seminary. More

about Rochberg here: http://www.milkenarchive.org/people/view/all/676/Rochberg,+George

English composer Henry Balfour Gardiner (1877–1950) is best remembered for this warm setting

of the compline hymn “Te ante lucis terminum”, although he did write many other works. Jacques

van Ortmerssen recorded the organ works of Sweelinck on the Denon label in 1982-83.

 

08:37:41
Henry Purcell: O God, Thou art my God
The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys; Concert Royal, John Scott

 

John Rutter: Behold, the tabernacle of God
Cambridge Singers; City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter

 

J.S. Bach: Chorale Prelude “Vater unser im Himmelreich”, BWV 737
Michael Murray, organ
1862 Walcker Organ at Metheun Hall

 

Purcell’s anthem “O God, Thou art my God” dates from 1680-82. It is perhaps best known

for its final chorus which was made into a hmyn tune.  John Rutter’s “Behold the Tabernacle”

is scored for chorus and orchestra. This is Rutter at his most festive.  The Walcker Organ was

imported from Germany in the 1860’s for Boston Music Halls. 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. More about the organ

here: http://www.andoverorgan.com/organs.rest.128.php

 

08:49:44
Hieronymus Praetorius: Magnificat quarti toni
The Cardinall’s Musick, Andrew Carwood

 

Andrew Carwood’s ensemble The Cardinall’s Musick produces some sublime sounds. Read more

about them here: http://www.cardinallsmusick.com/

 

09:01:44
J.S. Bach: Cantata 99, “Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan” II
Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
Malin Hartelius, soprano; William Towers, alto;
James Gilchrist, tenor; Peter Harvey, bass

 

If you are an oboe d’amore or flute fan, you will love the opening chorus. The flute part is

especially beautiful. The German translates as “What God does, surely that is right”.

 

09:20:19
W.A. Mozart: Missa brevis in B flat, K. 275
Leipzig Radio Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Kegel
Mitsuko Shirai, soprano; Rosemarie Lang, contralto;
Aldo Baldin, tenor; Hermann Christian Polster, bass

 

Scholars seem to agree that this mass was written before 1777 for use at Salzburg Cathedral.

 

09:40:31
Baldassare Galuppi: Arripe alpestri in vallem
Il Seminario Musicale
Gerard Lesne, alto

 

Baldassare Galuppi (1706-1785) is one of those obscure Italian composers whose sacred music

is not often performed. His claim to fame besides being a composer of comic opera was being

choirmaster of the Doge’s Chapel at St. Mark’s, Venice.

 

10:01:44
Gustav Holst: The Cloud Messenger, Op. 30
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Richard Hickox
Della Jones, mezzo-soprano

 

Gustav Holst who was born on this day in 1874 was fascinated with Sanskrit, the language of

liturgical Hinduism in India. He spent years translating the Meghad?ta, a Sanskrit poem on which

he based “The Cloud Messenger”. This is one of those pieces of choral music which is hard to grasp

on first hearing. Indeed it was not well-received at its first performance in March 1913. I thought it

was worth airing on Great Sacred Music because it reveals a deep sense of spirituality. And Holst’s

writing is so creative and appealing. Let me know what you think. More information about the

composer here: http://www.gustavholst.info/

 

10:46:43
Cesar Franck: Fantasy in A for organ
Michael Murray, organ
1984 Ruffatti organ in Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco

 

The Ruffatti organ in Davies Symphony Hall comprises 5 manuals and 147 ranks. You can find the

detailed specification here: http://www.ruffatti.com/specs/davies.html