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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Ascribe unto the LordSacred Choral Works by Samuel Sebastian Wesley
The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge has selected some of the best-known choral works of Samuel Sebastian Wesley for inclusion on this disc, interspersing them with one of his organ works as well as a psalm chant by his father, Samuel Wesley. Samuel Sebastian Wesley was one of the most controversial characters in nineteenth-century English music, earning a reputation for inherent stubbornness, a highly critical mindset (particularly in relation to the church), and a unique pioneering spirit. All of which were character traits which became instrumental in the creation of the wholly new styles of church music, and the renewal of church practices, for which he became known. ‘The Wilderness and the Solitary Place’ (c. 1832) is one such work, described by the conservative critic R.J.S. Stevens as ‘a clever thing. But it is not cathedral music’. This early work comes across as a compressed oratorio, or an operatic scena, with the overt emotions and huge range of textures on display unlike anything that had ever been heard in English church music before. In contrast, the mature ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace’ (c. 1850) shows the distance that Wesley had travelled since his earlier works on this disc. It is a model of simplicity and restraint, with a devotional close very much in the manner of Orlando Gibbons or William Byrd. The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge is one of the finest collegiate choirs in the world, known and loved by millions for its recordings, broadcasts, and concert tours. For several decades it has performed around the world, including the US, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, Australia, and of course Europe. It is also the only British choir to webcast services weekly throughout the year, at www.sjcchoir.co.uk. “an attractive programme, sung with expertise and devotion” BBC Music Magazine, April 2013 **** “One of the best [canticle-settings] is Wesley in E...Nethsinga directs splendidly, the performance as broad and grand as one could wish...this is a disc to uplift the spirits.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2013 | 
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| |  | Lead me, LordWesley, Mendelssohn and their contemporaries
John Scott Whiteley (organ) The Choir of York Minster, Robert Sharpe (director) Part of the first release in Regent’s new York Minster edition. 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of England’s finest composers of church music, Samuel Sebastian Wesley. A beautiful collection of nineteenth-century anthems placing Wesley in context with some of his English contemporaries and Mendelssohn – the German composer much-loved by English audiences in the midnineteenth century. In addition to glorious and memorable melody, a feature of many of the works on this disc is the extensive use of the boy treble voice in radiant and expressive solos. Sung by the brilliant men and boys of York Minster Choir under the direction of Robert Sharpe. | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Great Cathedral Anthems Vol. 7
“This is a most rewarding disc to explore” Church Music Quarterly | | | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. |
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| |  | Samuel Sebastian Wesley: Anthems
“The Choir of Clare College, which many will remember for their fresh and accomplished singing under John Rutter, is here directed by Christopher Robinson, than whom none better.” Gramophone Magazine, June 2007 “The fine Clare College choir sings [the anthems] with appropriate fervour” Sunday Times “There are few lovelier anthems than Wesley's Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace; Cast me notaway is worthy to stand with Purcell's Hear my prayer; and among his larger choral compositions The Wilderness retains an enviable place in the service-lists. For those who know Ascribeunto the Lord there will be many more for whom its final chorus, 'The Lord hath been mindful of us', is a firm favourite, satisfying in structure, vigorous in counterpoint, and sporting as its main themes two of the best melodies in the chorister's repertoire.
The Choir of Clare College, which many will remember for their fresh and accomplished singing under John Rutter, is here directed by Christopher Robinson, than whom none better.
The Robinson touch is manifest in the marvellous phrase 'that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice' (Cast me not away). Poor old Wesley had injured his in a fishing accident: he writes feelingly and the choir are with him. The 'ransomed of the Lord' passage in The Wilderness has terrific energy. And the soprano soloist in 'And sorrow and sighing' sings like an angel.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | (also available to download from $5.75) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Love Divine: Wesleyan Music from the Choir of Lincoln College Oxford
Christopher Bucknall (organ) Choir of Lincoln College Oxford, Christopher Eastwood “The choral music to be heard on this disc gives testimony to the quality of sound produced by the mixed voices of this superb chapel choir, regarded as one of Oxford University’s finest...It would be difficult for any lover of hymns singing not to join in on many occasions” The Organ, September 2003 “... the choir of Lincoln College make a wonderfully clean wholesome sound and sound ideal in this music...The choir fields a fine array of soloists, particularly Silvie Garnsey who contributes a lovely pure, clean treble solo in Samuel Sebastian’s ‘Blessed be God the Father’. Where the soloists act as a semi-chorus, then they sound heavenly.” MusicWeb International, 4th June 2003 | | | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. |
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| |  | Wesley Anthems
| | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Anthems by S.S Wesley
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| |  | Anthology of English Anthems450 years Byrd to Tavener
Attwood, T: | Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire | Bairstow: | Blessed City, heavenly Salem Let all mortal flesh keep silence | Battishill: | O Lord, look down from heaven | Bennett, R R: | Verses | Berkeley, L: | Thou Hast Made Me | Blow: | My God, My God, Look Upon Me | Boyce: | O where shall wisdom be found? | Britten: | Hymn to St. Peter, Op. 56a | Byrd: | O Lord Turn Thy Wrath Teach me, O Lord Exalt Thyself, O God Sing joyfully | Croft: | God Is Gone Up With A Merry Noise | Fanner: | The Lord's Prayer | Farrant, R: | Hide not thou thy face | Finzi: | Welcome Sweet and Sacred Feast, Op. 27 No. 3 | Gibbons, O: | O Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not O Lord, I Lift My Heart To Thee | Greene, M: | Lord, Let Me Know Mine End | Harper, J: | Salve Regina Ubi Caritas | Harris, W: | Bring us, O Lord God | Harvey, J: | Come, Holy Ghost The Tree | Holst: | The Evening-watch, H159 | Howells: | Like as the Hart Thee will I love Come, my soul | Ireland: | Greater Love Hath No Man | Joubert: | O Lorde, the maker of al thing | Leighton: | Drop, Drop Slow Tears Give me the wings of faith | Morley: | Out of the Deep Nolo mortem peccatoris | Ouseley: | Is it Nothing to You? O Saviour of the world | Parry: | My soul, there is a country (No. 1 from Songs of Farewell) | Purcell: | I was glad when they said unto me, Z19 Hear my prayer, O Lord, Z15 O God, thou hast cast us out, Z36 Remember not, O Lord, our offences, Z50 | Rose, B: | Praise Ye the Lord | Sheppard, J: | The Lord's Prayer | Stainer: | I saw the Lord | Stanford: | The Lord is my shepherd Glorious and Powerful God, Op. 135 No. 3 | Stewart, H C: | King of Glory, King of Peace | Tallis: | I call and cry to thee, O Lord Purge me, O Lord O Lord, give thy holy spirit | Tavener: | Hymn to the Mother of God | Tomkins: | Then David mourned O Praise the Lord, All Ye Heathen | Tye: | I Will Exalt Thee | Vaughan Williams: | Whitsunday Hymn | Walton: | Set me as a seal upon thine heart | Weelkes: | Hosanna to the Son of David O Lord Arise | Wesley, S S: | Blessed be the God and Father The Wilderness | Wilder, P: | Blessed Art Thou | Wood, C: | O thou the central orb Hail, gladdening Light Expectans Expectavi |
Magdalen College Oxford, John Harper “this set contains some very fine performances – particularly of the early twentieth century works. It makes fascinating listening especially for anyone interested in the development of music.” MusicWeb International, October 2012 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Gramophone Awards 2007