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The Music of St Paul's CathedralCD reviewTHE MUSIC OF ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL St. Paul's Cathedral Choir has just completed a series of recordings for the Hyperion label, made at various times over the past ten years, and this CD, extraordinarily good value at just £5, is a kind of sampler for the collection. The choir produces a classic English Cathedral sound, which is not quite the same as the 'King's College' variety - after all, no-one in the King's choir is older than 24. This is a mature majestic sound representative of a long and distinguished musical history, and wonderfully aided by the fabulous acoustics of St. Paul's. The performances on this CD are outstandingly good. It seems impossible these days to buy a choral CD without acquiring yet another recording of Parry's I was glad and Allegri's Miserere, and, sure enough, here they are. Although it must be said that the performance of the Allegri is one of the best I have every heard. The rest of the selection includes anthems ranging from the full-blown romanticism of Balfour-Gardiner's Evening Hymn to the much more modern Let the People Praise thee O God by William Mathias and Rutter's very moving God be in my Head. There are also some beautifully performed hymns, notably Dear Lord and Father of Mankind and an unfamiliar but convincing version of There's a wideness in God's mercy. Added to this there are two settings of the canticles Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis one from the late 19th century by Charles Stamford, and a much more contemporary one by the magnificent and under-rated Herbert Howells (1892-1983). The text of these pieces, which are either directly Biblical or else fairly obviously guided by Scripture, allied to the superb singing by this excellent choir, make this recording a genuinely inspiring experience for the Christian listener. Simon Brennan© Evangelicals Now - August 2000 |