I post these playlists weekly with the hope that you might find them useful as you plan your programs. All of my playlists are on Spotify for you to enjoy at your convenience.
GSM – February 3, 2019 https://spoti.fi/2WHqid0
Don’t forget that we have more choral and organ music programmed
on Sunday evenings beginning at 10 p.m. eastern.
Rob Kennedy
WCPE The Classical Station
Web: TheClassicalStation.org
Facebook: www.facebook/theclassicalstation
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Tomás Luis de Victoria: O sacrum convivium
Winchester Cathedral Choir, David Hill
John Tavener: The Lamb
Choir of Westminster Abbey, Martin Neary
Text by William Blake
John Rutter: The Lord is my shepherd ~ Requiem
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge; City of London Sinfonia, Stephen Cleobury
Found as an antiphon to the Magnificat in the vespers for Corpus Christi, the text “O sacrum convivium” is attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas. John Tavener (1944-2003) used a poem from Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake for his popular anthem “The Lamb.” The hallmarks of English composer John Rutter’s music are its accessibility and beautiful melodies.
William Byrd: Miserere mei
Cambridge Singers, John Rutter
Margaret Rizza: Ave Maria
Gaudete Ensemble, Eamonn Dougan
Sydney Campbell: Sing we Merrily unto God our Strength
Choir of St. John’s, Elora, Noel Edison
Paul Halley, organ
English Tudor musician William Byrd (1540-1623) was a prolific composer
of his time. English composer Margaret Rizza (1929-) sang professionally for 25 years and taught at London’s Guildhall School of Music, but did not begin composing until 1997. Sydney Campbell (1909-1974) was organist of Ely, Southwark, and Canterbury Cathedrals at various points in his career. He was organist of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor from 1961-1974.
Commentary: The Right Reverend Peter Lee
Father Lee is the retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford: Justorum animae ~ Three Unaccompanied
Motets, Op. 38
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt
Gerald Near: Holy is the True Light
Choirs of St. John’s Cathedral, Denver, Donald Pearson
Eric Plutz, organ
“Justorum animae” translates as “Souls of the Righteous”. These three motets were dedicated to Alan Gray, Stanford’s successor at Trinity College, Cambridge. American composer Gerald Near (1942-) studied with Leo Sowerby.
Felix Mendelssohn: Hear my prayer
Choir of New College, Oxford, Edward Higginbottom
Thomas Herford, soprano
Franz Liszt: Chorale, “Nun Danket alle Gott”
Johan Huys, organ
1894 Schyven organ in Carmelites’ Church, Ghent, Belgium
English treble Ernest Lough’s recording of Mendelssohn’s “Hear my prayer” in 1927 went on to sell over six million copies. While Franz Liszt is best remembered as a virtuoso pianist, he also was an accomplished organist. His organ compositions are considered tours de force of the organist’s repertoire.
J.S. Bach: Cantata 81, “Jesus schlaft, was soll ich hoffen”
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
Robin Blaze, countertenor; James Gilchrist, tenor
Peter Kooy, bass-baritone
The German translates as “Jesus sleeps, what hope is there for me?” Bach set the Gospel text of Matthew 8: 23-27 which describes Jesus quieting the storm. The music can only be described as theatrically appropriate.
George Frideric Handel: Chandos Anthem No. 07, “My song shall be alway” Psalm 89
The Sixteen Choir and Orchestra, Harry Christophers
Patrizia Kwella, soprano; James Bowman, alto;
Ian Partridge, tenor; Michael George, bass
English composer Handel wrote his setting of Psalm 89 whilst in the employ of James Brydges, Duke of Chandos in 1717.
J.S. Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582
Michael Murray, organ
Walcker Organ at Metheun Hall
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.
Jean Mouton: Missa Tu es Petrus
Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice
While only about twenty-five compositions by French composer Jean Mouton (c.1459-1522) survive, scholars have determined that his influence reached far afield. He is supposed to have taught Adrian Willaert, one of the exponents of a style known as the Venetian school. The Latin translates as “Mass Thou art Peter.”
Louis-Nicolas Clerambault: Miserere
Les Demoiselles De Saint-Cyr, Emmanuel Mandrin
Emmanuel Mandrin, organ
Les Demoiselles De Saint-Cyr is a choral ensemble named after the young ladies from impoverished noble families who attended La Maison Royale de Saint Louis.
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