Wood, C: Hail, gladdening Light

Music from three different eras of King's College: under David Willcocks (1970-77), Philip Ledger (1975-82) and Stephen Cleobury (1984-2002).

This CD represents some of the popular music sung at Guildford Cathedral by the choirs, favourite anthems which reflect different seasons of the liturgical year, written for many diverse occasions. It includes Parry’s I was Glad and Dyson’s exuberant setting of the Magnificat in D major.

The Choir of St George's Chapel,Windsor Castle offers a sumptuous programme of jewels from the anthem tradition whose repertoire spans five centuries. Under the luminous direction of Timothy Byram-Wigfield, and in the luxurious resonance of St George's Chapel, the choir resounds with exhilarating energy.

This recording is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on 11 September, 2001.The proceeds from this track will be donated to the British Memorial Garden Trust Inc. www.britishmemorialgarden.org

"there are many choral groups performing cathedral music on cd and in the concert hall but no matter howpolished their singing nothing quite matches the experience of hearing our greatest church choirs singing their own repertoire on their own territory. So it is with this splendid cd - surely the next-best thing to being present in the Sumptuous surroundings of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle." Organists' Review

"demonstrates the choir's versatility …their freshness is an asset, and the extremes of expression … are beautifully caught" Gramophone

After thirty years of world-wide performance and recording, The Sixteen, "The Voices of Classic FM", are recognised as one of the world’s greatest ensembles. Comprising both choir and period instrument orchestra, The Sixteen's total commitment to the music it performs is its greatest distinction. Its special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of twentieth century music, is drawn from the passions of conductor and founder, Harry Christophers.

The Sixteen has recently featured in the highly successful BBC Four television series, Sacred Music, presented by actor Simon Russell Beale.

The Sixteen’s album IKON was nominated for a 2007 Grammy.

A New Heaven narrows the gap between our secular age and a time when the Anglican Church was among the most important patrons and consumers of British music. It also offers listeners the chance to reconnect with spiritual matters richly expressed by composers with the flair and imagination required to distil big issues of life and death into miniature forms.