Duruflé: Tu es Petrus, Op. 10 No. 3

‘Beautifully crafted choral sound’ Gramophone

Another fascinating collection from Westminster Abbey, recreating a particular liturgical period.

This disc contains music one might hear if visiting the Abbey on its patronal feast, that of St Peter the Apostle, which falls on 29 June. The programme broadly follows the structure of the three major choral services of the Anglican tradition, all of which can in turn be traced back to the worship familiar in the pre-Reformation period when the Abbey was a Benedictine monastery: Matins (or Morning Prayer); Eucharist (Mass); and Evensong (Evening Prayer). The two principal musical elements are William Byrd’s Mass for five voices, and, linking the morning and evening Offices, four movements from Charles Villiers Stanford’s Service in B flat. Also featured is Walton’s choral masterpiece The Twelve.

The Abbey choir sings with its usual full-throated joy, expertly directed by James O’Donnell.

In 1961, the 59-year-old Maurice Duruflé put the finishing touches to the third and last version of his Requiem, composed 14 years previously. Duruflé had already transcribed some of these themes for the organ: hence this entire programme underlines the artistic and spiritual coherence of his approach. Bill Ives leads the men and boys of the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford and the players of the English Sinfonia in a glorious disc, rich in timbre and deeply spiritual. Founded in 1480, the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford was then one of the oldest and largest choral foundations in late-medieval England.That historic legacy has been preserved and maintained over five centuries.The Choir exists primarily to sing the daily church services in Magdalen College Chapel.They also sing at a number of special occasions throughout the year, including the famous May Day celebrations, an ancient tradition dating back to 1509. Magdalen College Choir records for harmonia mundi USA. Their 2004 release, With A Merrie Noyse, was nominated for a Grammy Award, with BBC Music Magazine referring to its 'perfectly paced dynamics and flawless ensemble'.This was followed by a recording of music by Christopher Tye.Their recent recording Listen Sweet Dove is of choral and organ music by Bill Ives, the Choir's current director. As a former member of The King's Singers, he has first-hand knowledge of choral singing across a wide musical spectrum.

Danacord Records are proud to release the complete recording of organ works, motets and requiem by the French composer Maurice Duruflé, on a 2CD set for the price of one. Two of the finest Danish singers, Randi Stene and Bo Skovhus are the leading forces together with the cream of Aarhus City musicians, not least the Aarhus Cathedral organist, Kristian Krogsøe. Together with the 2CD set is a 44 page booklet in full colour with texts and detail of the registers of the Aarhus Cathedral organ.

Sheffield Cathedral is dedicated to St Peter & St Paul and this recording, Tu es Petus – ‘Thou art Peter’ – presents an unusual collection of music in honour of St Peter.

A new recording from this excellent choir.

Includes rarely-heard works works from Jonathan Dove and Carl Rütti, and the first recording by a British choir of the stunning Grande Messe Solennelle by the contemporary French composer, Thierry Escaich.

Sheffield Cathedral’s previous recordings included ground-breaking releases devoted to the works of Robert Walker and Patrick Gowers.