The Psalms / Nethsingha, Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge
The Choir of St John’s have received glowing praise for their previous releases, culminating in the choral prize at the 2017 BBC Music Magazine Awards for their debut release of works by Jonathan Harvey. The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge is one of the finest collegiate choirs in the world, known and loved by millions from its broadcasts, concert tours and recordings. Founded in the 1670s, the Choir is known for its distinctive rich, warm sound, its expressive interpretations and its breadth of repertoire. Alongside these musical characteristics, the Choir is particularly proud of its happy, relaxed and mutually supportive atmosphere, which as of 2022 invites their first female scholars.
REVIEWS:
One of the consistent features of the St John’s recordings that have come my way has been the excellence of the documentation. This latest release is no exception. The booklet contains a general introductory essay about the Book of Psalms by Rev, Andrew Hammond, the College Chaplain. He also contributes short notes on each of the chose psalms while the organist John Challenger furnishes succinct details about the composer of the chants to which each psalm is sung. As usual, though, at the heart of the booklet is an absorbing essay by Andrew Nethsingha. On this occasion he discusses such matters as how psalm chants should be pointed and, of especial relevance, gives us insights into how the psalmody developed at St John’s.
The recorded sound is very good indeed. It’s also remarkably consistent given that producer Chris Hazell and engineer Simon Eadon recorded the choir in five different sessions over four years.
This is another fine addition to the distinguished discography of Andrew Nethsingha and the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge.
-- MusicWeb International
Product Description:
-
Release Date: September 16, 2022
-
UPC: 635212072127
-
Catalog Number: SIGCD721
-
Label: Signum Classics
-
Number of Discs: 1
-
Composer: Robert James Ashfield, Ivor Algernon Atkins, Thomas Attwood, William Crotch, Henry Walford Davies, Henry John Gauntlett, Alan Stephen Hemmings, William Hine, Highmore Skeats Jr., William Prendergast, Christopher Robinson, Charles Hylton Stewart, Percy William Whitlock
-
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Orchestra/Ensemble: Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
-
Performer: James Anderson-Besant, Glen Dempsey, George Herbert
Works:
-
Psalm 18, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength"
Composer: Henry John Gauntlett
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: Glen Dempsey (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 99, "The Lord is King"
Composer: Percy Whitlock
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: George Herbert (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 85, "Lord, Thou Art Become Gracious unto thy Land"
Composer: Alan Stephen Hemmings
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: Glen Dempsey (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 76, "In Jewry is God known"
Composer: Robert Ashfield
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: George Herbert (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 52, "Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant"
Composer: Charles Hylton Stewart
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: George Herbert (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 88, "O Lord God of my salvation"
Composer: William Prendergast
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: James Anderson-Besant (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 29, "Bring unto the Lord, O ye mighty"
Composer: Thomas Attwood
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: Glen Dempsey (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 2, "Why do the heathen so furiously rage"
Composer: Christopher Robinson
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: Glen Dempsey (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 139, "O Lord, thou hast searched me out, and known me"
Composer: Highmore Skeats
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: Glen Dempsey (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 148, "O praise the Lord of heaven"
Composer: Christopher Robinson
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: Glen Dempsey (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 121, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills"
Composer: Henry Walford Davies
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 122, "I was glad when they said unto me"
Composer: Ivor Atkins
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: James Anderson-Besant (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha
-
Psalm 123, "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes"
Composer: William Crotch
Ensemble: St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Performer: James Anderson-Besant (Organ)
Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha