[ Hyperion Helios / CD ]
Release Date: Thursday 20 December 2012
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'This truly rich advent feast is performed wonderfully well on all counts and can be highly recommended' (Organists' Review)
Every year on Advent Sunday St Paul's Cathedral in London holds an Advent Carol Service. This recording captures the mood and structure of these events, presenting a selection of the music which might be performed in its liturgical order. The Church's preparation for the coming of Christ begins in contemplative mood with the plainchant processional Laudes Regiae and the famous Mattins Responsory ('I look from afar -'). The wealth of music that follows is typical of the approach of this choir: traditional favourites such as Hosanna to the Son of David and the Parsons Ave Maria rest alongside contemporary works from composers such as John Rutter, Richard Lloyd and Philip Wilby. The disc - and the hypothetical service - comes to an end with a joyous arrangement of the great hymn O come, O come, Emmanuel; an organ toccata on the same theme by Andrew Carter acts as the voluntary.
1 Laudes Regiae [5'40] Anonymous - liturgical
2 Mattins Responsory [3'13] Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c1525-1594), arr. Sir David Valentine Willcocks (b1919)
3 Ecce concipies [2'18] Jacob Handl (1550-1591)
4 Blow out the trumpet in Sion [2'39] Martin Peerson (c1572-1651)
Andrew Lucas (organ)
5 Drop down ye heavens [7'01] Richard Lloyd (b1933)
Andrew Lucas (organ), Edward Burrowes (treble)
6 Laetentur caeli [3'21] William Byrd (1539/40-1623)
7 Echo Carol [3'09] Philip Wilby (b1949)
Andrew Lucas (organ)
8 Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed be the King [2'10] Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)
9 A Hymn of St Columba 'Regis regum rectissimi' [2'26] Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Andrew Lucas (organ)
10 Rejoice in the Lord alway [3'19] Anonymous - Baroque
11 This is the record of John [4'43] Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Andrew Lucas (organ), Christopher Royall (countertenor)
12 Hymn to the Creator of Light 'Glory be to thee, O Lord, glory be to thee' [7'57] John Rutter (b1945)
13 Angelus ad virginem [2'36] Anonymous - Medieval, arr. Sir David Valentine Willcocks (b1919)
Andrew Lucas (organ)
14 Virga Jesse floruit [4'00] Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
15 Ave Maria 5 vv [5'17] Robert Parsons (c1530-1570)
16 Vesper Responsory [1'40] Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c1525-1594)
17 O come, O come, Emmanuel [3'55] Anonymous - Renaissance, arr. Andrew Carter (b1939)
Andrew Lucas (organ)
18 Organ Toccata on Veni Emmanuel [4'18] Andrew Carter (b1939)
John Scott (organ)