Leighton: Easter Sequence (An) / Crucifixus Pro Nobis Christopher Whitton

• 1Magnificat05:06
• 2Nunc Dimittis03:12
• 3Give me the wings of faith04:52
• 4Introit (for the First Sundy after Easter)00:57
• 5Gradual (for the First Sunday after Easter)01:22
• 6Offertory (for the First Sunday after Easter)02:55
• 7Communion (for the First Sunday after Easter)04:51
• 8Sortie (Antiphon at First Vespers of Ascension Day)04:08
• 9Veni creator spiritus05:03
• 10What love is this of thine?06:17
• 11Christ in the Cradle03:27
• 12Christ in the Garden03:37
• 13Christ in his Passion06:04
• 14Hymn02:13
• 15Rockingham: Chorale Prelude on 'When I survey the wondrous Cross'03:12
• 16Magnificat06:36
• 17Nunc Dimittis04:02
• Total Runtime01:07:54

Info for Leighton: Easter Sequence (An) / Crucifixus Pro Nobis

Kenneth Leighton’s distinctive compositional voice is characterized by rich, lush harmonies, subtle dissonance, rhythmic energy and a lilting, angular lyricism. Pithy thematic ideas and syncopated rhythms are allied to a brilliant mastery of counterpoint and a unique sense of melody borne of a lifelong love of hymns, chorale and chant. This collection features the two contrasting Canticle Settings, the Easter Sequence scored for boys’ voices, organ and trumpet (played here by Crispian Steele-Perkins) and Crucifixus pro nobis, the austere, miniature masterpiece of a Passion setting for tenor, choir and organ which climaxes with one of English choral music’s remarkable icons “Drop, drop, slow tears”.

„First – a pleasant surprise almost like news of an unexpected half-holiday at school – here is an addition to that splendid series of records by the choir of St John’s under former director Christopher Robinson which one assumed had ended with the latter’s retirement last year and their Stanford disc of 7/03. Then – happily noted on behalf of readers who, with a liking for Leighton, may already have the recital by St Paul’s Cathedral Choir on Hyperion and wonder whether there may not be too many duplications to justify a second purchase – the programme does not overlap with its predecessor except in two items, both of which gain substantially from the new recording.

Crucifixus pro nobis was a work commissioned by the tenor Neil Mackie, who sings the solos absolutely as to the heart’s desire in the earlier record, but James Oxley, with St John’s, is a worthy successor, and the choir’s part in the work is much helped by the acoustic to achieve greater clarity in the words. The solemn reverberance of Wren’s cathedral brings a dramatic colouring to the climaxes of the third section, but the clearer air of St John’s is better suited to the chill of the opening. And when it comes to the final section and the setting of ‘Drop, drop, slow tears’, well, at St Paul’s they drop just too slowly (3'36') even for that mighty building, whereas St John’s (2'09') has it proportionately right. As for the other duplicated item, the Second Evening Service, it now comes out of the mists and half-lights into the freedom which is its element.

The John’s touch is there in all this – right from the first phrases of the first track, the other Magnificat (Collegium Magdelenae Oxoniense), with its enthusiasm in the verb, the ‘magnify’, and in its object, ‘God my saviour’. Both are wonderful settings, as are those in Easter Sequence with its trumpet obbligato. In this business of record-reviewing I find, on the positive side, music and performances I like, more that I admire, some that I love, but not much that evokes affirmation from the soul. This does.“ (Gramophone)

Christopher Whitton, organ
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
Christopher Robinson, conductor
James Oxley, tenor
Crispian Steele-Perkins, trumpet
Gareth Jones, baritone solo
Benjamin Durrant, treble solo

Christopher Whitton
has been Chorus Master of the Cambridge Philharmonic since 2004. A former Organ Student of St John’s College, he is now a University Lecturer in Classics, and Fellow and Director of Music at Emmanuel College.

As an organist and choral musician Christopher has held posts at Winchester College, Harvard University, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, and . St Bartholomew the Great, London. In the last year he has given concerts at Westminster Abbey, Einsiedeln Abbey, Switzerland, and the Forbidden City, Beijing, played live on BBC Radios 3 and 4, and appeared twice on BBC1 television. He also teaches each year on the Eton Choral Courses for aspiring choral scholars.

Booklet for Leighton: Easter Sequence (An) / Crucifixus Pro Nobis