Orchestral Anthems Vol. 2: Bairstow - Elgar - Ireland - Stanford - Walton - Wesley Choir of Merton College, Oxford, Britten Sinfonia & Benjamin Nicholas

• Edward Elgar (1857–1934): The Light of Life in G Major, Op. 29:
• 1 Elgar: The Light of Life in G Major, Op. 29: VI. Light out of Darkness 05:08
• Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924): Morning, Evening and Communion Service in A Major, Op. 12:
• 2 Stanford: Morning, Evening and Communion Service in A Major, Op. 12: XI. Magnificat 06:14
• 3 Stanford: Morning, Evening and Communion Service in A Major, Op. 12: XII. Nunc Dimittis 05:36
• Edward Bairstow (1874–1946): Lord, thou hast been our Refuge in A Major:
• 4 Bairstow: Lord, thou hast been our Refuge in A Major 08:21
• Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958): 3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes:
• 5 Williams: 3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes: III. Rhosymedre (Arr. for Orchestra by Arnold Foster) 04:22
• Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810–1876): Ascribe unto the Lord in G Major:
• 6 Wesley: Ascribe unto the Lord in G Major: I. Ascribe unto the Lord 02:25
• 7 Wesley: Ascribe unto the Lord in G Major: II. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness 02:39
• 8 Wesley: Ascribe unto the Lord in G Major: III. As for for gods of the heathen 02:26
• 9 Wesley: Ascribe unto the Lord in G major: IV. They that make them are like unto them 02:01
• 10 Wesley: Ascribe unto the Lord in G Major: V. The Lord hath been mindful of us 04:01
• John Ireland (1879–1962): Greater Love Hath No Man:
• 11 Ireland: Greater Love Hath No Man 06:19
• The Twelve:
• 12 Ireland: The Twelve 10:57
• Total Runtime 01:00:29

Info for Orchestral Anthems Vol. 2: Bairstow - Elgar - Ireland - Stanford - Walton - Wesley

The Choir of Merton College reunites with Britten Sinfonia to explore some much-loved Anglican repertoire in its full orchestral splendour.

Stanford in A, as it was originally heard in 1880, reveals its symphonic side, not least in the masterful and eloquently scored Nunc dimittis. Anthems by Elgar and Bairstow gain new life in their original scoring, while others, originally for organ, are given added dimensions by their composers’ orchestrations.

Walton’s The Twelvematches W.H. Auden’s striking and dramatic poetry with typically dynamic vocal and instrumental writing; Ireland’s Greater love and Wesley’s mighty Ascribe unto the Lord bring to the anthem tradition a richness of harmony and orchestral colour to which Benjamin Nicholas’s combined forces do full-blooded justice.

"What a tour de force of absolute beauty awaits the listener. Music that is inspiring, glorious, invigorating and most of all entrancing, to remind us that another life awaits us all when eyes are closed. Benjamin Nicholas keeps things flowing with mercurial precision and gracefulness, and the Britten Sinfonia's response is consistently intense and uplifting ...This is an exceptional recording of some superb compositions that are crying out to be heard more frequently - exhilarating stuff in pristine sound quality, eyecatching presentation and profusely detailed annotations. Strongly recommended." - CLASSICAL MUSIC DAILY

Choir of Merton College Oxford
Britten Sinfonia
Benjamin Nicholas,conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Orchestral Anthems Vol. 2: Bairstow - Elgar - Ireland - Stanford - Walton - Wesley