DCD34087-CD

Stanford: Choral Music

The Tewkesbury boys and men turn their attention to that doyen of Anglican church music, Charles Villiers Stanford. Alongside familiar gems from the Evensong repertoire, sung with characteristic vigour and freshness, the programme includes the six little-known Bible Songs, each followed by its associated hymn.

"Directed by Benjamin Nicholas, it is a powerful as well as a warm reading. The ample acoustic of the Abbey may work against clarity, with the organ on the mushy side, but the result is highly evocative of Anglican church music at its best."

"How does one bring freshness to 'Praise to the Lord' or 'For lo I raise up'? The answer would seem to be group experience, for Benjamin Nicholas's soloists all come from the ranks of the choir and they are on home ground with Carleton Etherington...colourfully accompanying...[In 'For lo...'] Schola's basses, always virile, excel in their attack...Buy this disc."

"This is an exciting release from Delphian for a number of reasons: the quality of the sound, the singing and the repertoire...The performance is well-balanced, nuanced and totally sympathetic to Stanford’s achievement."

"I cannot remember when I last heard the solos in the G major evening service performed quite so beautifully"

"The credentials of the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum under Benjamin Nicholas are well established and the performances on this disc do not disappoint."

ROYAL SCHOOLS OF CHURCH MUSIC REVIEW

Producer: Paul Baxter
Release Date: 31 January 2011
Catalogue No: DCD34087
Total playing time: 1:17:28

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