Britten: The Choral Edition

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The bulk of Britten's choral output, repackaged at budget level from full-price originals. Wonderfully sympathetic performances, rich recording. A top bargain for the Britten centenary. — BBC Music Magazine, November 2013, 5 out of 5 stars

Release Date: 3rd Jun 2013
Catalogue No: CHAN10771(3)X
Label: Chandos
Series: Classics
Length: 3 hours 20 minutes

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Britten: Hymn to St. Peter, Op. 56a

Work length6:05

$1.00

$1.30

Julie Cooper (soprano), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 23, 24 October 1995
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: A Hymn of Saint Columba

Work length2:11

$1.00

$1.30

Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 23, 24 October 1995
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: A Hymn to the Virgin

Work length2:49

$1.00

$1.30

Julie Cooper (soprano), Stephen Carter (countertenor), Mark Milhofer (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 23, 24 October 1995
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27

Work length10:40

$3.00

$3.90

Carys Lane (soprano), Belinda Yates (soprano), Kathryn Cook (alto), Andrew Carwood (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 23, 24 October 1995
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

I. In a Garden Shady

Track length2:44

$1.00

$1.30

II. I Cannot Grow

Track length2:06

$1.00

$1.30

III. O Ear Whose Creatures Cannot Wish to Fall

Track length5:50

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

Work length17:04

$10.00

$13.00

Carys Lane (soprano), Richard Wyn Roberts (countertenor), James Gilchrist (tenor), Simon Preece (bass), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 23, 24 October 1995
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Rejoice in God, o ye Tongues

Track length1:29

$1.00

$1.30

Let Nimrod, the mighty hunter …

Track length1:19

$1.00

$1.30

Hallelujah from the heart of God …

Track length1:04

$1.00

$1.30

For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry

Track length2:20

$1.00

$1.30

For the Mouse Is a creature

Track length0:58

$1.00

$1.30

For the flowers Are great blessing

Track length2:05

$1.00

$1.30

For I am under the same accusation

Track length2:49

$1.00

$1.30

For H Is a spirit

Track length1:07

$1.00

$1.30

For the instruments Are by their rhimes …

Track length2:29

$1.00

$1.30

Hallelujah from the heart of God … (reprise)

Track length1:24

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53, Choral Dances

Work length9:36

$6.00

$7.80

Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 23, 24 October 1995
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

No. 1, Time

Track length1:28

$1.00

$1.30

No. 2, Concord

Track length2:19

$1.00

$1.30

No. 3, Time and Concord

Track length1:28

$1.00

$1.30

No. 4, Country Girls

Track length0:58

$1.00

$1.30

No. 5, Rustics and Fishermen

Track length1:00

$1.00

$1.30

No. 6, Final Dance of Homage

Track length2:23

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: A.M.D.G.

Work length18:31

$7.00

$9.10

Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 23, 24 October 1995
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

No. 1, Prayer I

Track length2:19

$1.00

$1.30

No. 2, Rosa Mystica

Track length4:47

$1.00

$1.30

No. 3, God's Grandeur

Track length3:32

$1.00

$1.30

No. 4, Prayer II

Track length2:38

$1.00

$1.30

No. 5, O Deus, ego amo te

Track length1:36

$1.00

$1.30

No. 6, The Soldier

Track length2:11

$1.00

$1.30

No. 7, Heaven-Haven

Track length1:28

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: Jubilate Deo

Work length2:46

$1.00

$1.30

Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: Te Deum in C

Work length8:42

$2.00

$2.60

Carys Lane (soprano), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: Antiphon, Op. 56b

Work length6:08

$1.00

$1.30

Olive Simpson (soprano), Rachel Wheatley (soprano), Rachel Elliott (soprano), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Work length10:22

$5.00

$6.50

Robert Burt (vocals), Rachel Wheatley (soprano), Carys Lane (soprano), Lindsay Wagstaff (soprano), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Kyrie

Track length1:58

$1.00

$1.30

Gloria

Track length2:40

$1.00

$1.30

Sanctus

Track length1:35

$1.00

$1.30

Benedictus

Track length1:56

$1.00

$1.30

Agnus Dei

Track length2:13

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: A Wedding Anthem, Op. 46

Work length9:50

$2.00

$2.60

Carys Lane (soprano), Mark Milhofer (tenor), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: Christ's Nativity

Work length3:02

$1.00

$1.30

Susanna Spicer (alto)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Sweet was the Song

Track length3:02

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28

Work length21:47

$12.00

$15.60

Olive Simpson (soprano), Carys Lane (soprano), Rachel Wheatley (soprano), Rachel Elliott (soprano), Kathryn Cook (alto), Susan Drake (harp)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Procession

Track length1:29

$1.00

$1.30

Wolcum yole!

Track length1:22

$1.00

$1.30

There Is no rose

Track length2:26

$1.00

$1.30

That yonge child

Track length1:40

$1.00

$1.30

Balulalow

Track length1:15

$1.00

$1.30

As dew in Aprille

Track length0:55

$1.00

$1.30

This little Babe

Track length1:25

$1.00

$1.30

Interlude

Track length3:51

$1.00

$1.30

In freezing winter night

Track length3:30

$1.00

$1.30

Spring Carol

Track length1:07

$1.00

$1.30

Deo Gracias!

Track length1:10

$1.00

$1.30

Recession

Track length1:37

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32

Work length6:38

$1.00

$1.30

Lindsay Wagstaff (soprano), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Britten: Jubilate Deo

Work length2:35

$1.00

$1.30

Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 7, 8 March 1996
Recording Venue: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, UK

Jubilate Deo (reprise) [Live]

Track length2:35

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: Five Flower Songs, Op. 47

Work length11:24

$5.00

$6.50

Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 28, 29 April 1997
Recording Venue: Church of St Augustine, Kilburn, London, UK

No. 1, To Daffodils

Track length2:15

$1.00

$1.30

No. 2, The Succession of the Four Sweet Months

Track length1:52

$1.00

$1.30

No. 3, Marsh Flowers

Track length2:23

$1.00

$1.30

No. 4, The Evening Primrose

Track length2:42

$1.00

$1.30

No. 5, Ballad of Green Broom

Track length2:12

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: Advance Democracy

Work length3:00

$1.00

$1.30

Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 28, 29 April 1997
Recording Venue: Church of St Augustine, Kilburn, London, UK

Britten: Sacred and Profane, Op. 91

Work length15:51

$8.00

$10.40

Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 28, 29 April 1997
Recording Venue: Church of St Augustine, Kilburn, London, UK

No. 1, St. Godric's Hymn

Track length1:38

$1.00

$1.30

No. 2, I mon waxe wod

Track length0:47

$1.00

$1.30

No. 3, Lenten Is come

Track length2:16

$1.00

$1.30

No. 4, The long night

Track length1:24

$1.00

$1.30

No. 5, Yif ic of luve can

Track length3:03

$1.00

$1.30

No. 6, Carol

Track length1:25

$1.00

$1.30

No. 7, Ye That pasen by

Track length2:15

$1.00

$1.30

No. 8, A death

Track length3:03

$1.00

$1.30

Britten: A Boy was Born, Op. 3

Work length31:16

$8.00

$10.40

Jonathan Cannock (treble)
Lichfield Cathedral Choristers, Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer
Recorded: 28, 29 April 1997
Recording Venue: Church of St Augustine, Kilburn, London, UK

Theme. A boy was Born

Track length2:04

$1.00

$1.30

Variation 1: Lullaby, Jesu

Track length4:38

$1.00

$1.30

Variation 2: Herod

Track length2:15

$1.00

$1.30

Variation 3: Jesu, as Thou Art Our Saviour

Track length2:56

$1.00

$1.30

Variation 4: The Three Kings

Track length4:15

$1.00

$1.30

Variation 5: In the Bleak Mid-winter

Track length5:29

$1.00

$1.30

Variation 6 (Finale): Noel!

Track length9:39

$2.00

$2.60

About
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About

Britten’s substantial choral output ranges from small-scale pieces for boys’ choir to massive works such as the Spring Symphony and War Requiem. This three-disc compilation brings together a large selection of early and late unaccompanied choral works, performed by The Finzi Singers under Paul Spicer.

Here, among many others, is Rejoice in the Lamb, written in 1943 for Walter Hussey, the vicar of St Matthew’s Church in Northampton, for his congregation’s Jubilee Celebrations. Hussey was interested in forging a closer association between the arts and the Church, an aim that Britten himself shared. The composer chose as his text extracts from Christopher Smart’s Jubilate Agno, a rambling poem of the mid-eighteenth century, composed largely in a mad house. Although there is a delightful sense of madness present here, the religious character of the work is the most striking.

A.M.D.G., seven unaccompanied settings of poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins, was among the first works written by Britten after his arrival in the US in 1939. The work’s title is an abbreviation of Ad majorem Dei gloriam (To the greater glory of God), a saying that appears throughout the writings of Ignatius de Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order of which Hopkins was a member. The premiere performance of this work was meant to take place in November 1939, but the outbreak of war caused the concert to be cancelled. The first performance was given by the London Sinfonietta Chorus, several years after the composer’s death, in August 1984.

This re-release is available on the Classic Chandos label at 3 CDs for the price of 2. The Finzi Singers and Paul Spicer have recorded a wide variety of British music for Chandos, much of which has not been heard before either in performance or on disc. They have been regarded as major exponents of British twentieth-century choral music.

Reviews

November 2013

The bulk of Britten's choral output, repackaged at budget level from full-price originals. Wonderfully sympathetic performances, rich recording. A top bargain for the Britten centenary.

Offer,Britten: The Choral Edition

3 CDs

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