Monk, W H: Abide with me

A collection of music by great British composers, including Elgar - Land of Hope and Glory, Enigma Variations; Holst – The Planets; Walton – Crown Imperial; Orb & Sceptre and Parry – Jerusalem. Full of highly recognisable themes, this album captures and celebrates the great British spirit.

Released in time for the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Katherine Middleton, which takes place on the 29th April 2011. With street parties up and down the isle and a national bank holiday, the biggest Royal event since the Marriage of Prince Charles to Princess Diana is set to be celebrated in style.

There is surely no more quintessentially English sound than that of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, its unaccompanied voices – evocative of immemorial sandstone, of cool cloisters, of evensong in church, chapel and cathedral – serene in the music of Shakespeare’s contemporaries Byrd and Gibbons, ethereal in Delius heard of a summer’s night across the Backs of the River Cam.

No less iconic is the chapel that lends its unique acoustic to that sound. One of the glories of the English perpendicular style of architecture, it was eventually completed in 1547, a little over a century after the founding of the college itself by Henry VI.

This collection opens and closes with coronation music: Zadok the Priest was written for the crowning of George II in 1727, I was glad for that of Edward VII in 1902. Both were so successful that they have been sung at every coronation since their premières. Parry’s ‘processional anthem’ is heard here in its full panoply of extra brass and shouted Vivats, the choir of King’s choir providing the semi-chorus in the exquisite interlude ‘O pray for the peace of Jerusalem’.

In between are motets ancient and modern – from the miniature If ye love me and the architectural splendour of the 40-part Spem in alium to William Harris’s dramatic double-choir Spenser setting Faire is the Heaven; well-known psalms sung to Anglican chant; and favourite hymns, notably All people that on earth do dwell, arranged ceremonially for another coronation, that of Elizabeth II.

As well as national rejoicing there is solemn remembrance. Come ye sons of art away is Purcell’s 1694 birthday ode for Queen Mary, Thou knowest, Lord part of the music he wrote for her funeral just nine months later. John Ireland’s Greater love hath no man is often heard on Remembrance Sunday; Sir John Tavener’s Song for Athene made a powerful impression at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; while John Rutter’s small-scale, personal Requiem touched a wider public following the attacks of 11 September 2001. But ‘Nimrod’ above all epitomises music of national remembrance. Here a choral setting of it, Lux aeterna, represents our ‘Shakespeare of music’, Edward Elgar.

The third volume in this Welte-Philharmonic-Organ series is dedicated primarily to entertainment on board a steamer. It also pays tribute to the sister ship of the Britannic, the Titanic. The CD includes In Memoriam Titanic written in commemoration, as 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage. Also included is Chopin’s Funeral March, 20th century “cinematic accompaniment” and dance music.

A collection of music traditionally played at wedding ceremonies, with an elegantly British twist

The Great British Wedding Album encapsulates not only the most popular classical music played during wedding ceremonies and celebrations, but also the most quintessentially British classical music.

The album is the perfect souvenir soundtrack for the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Katherine Middleton, which takes place on the 29th April 2011. With street parties up and down the country and a national bank holiday, the Royal Wedding is shaping up to be the biggest Royal occasion since the marriage of Prince Charles to Princess Diana.

Full of highly recognisable themes, this album is unique in capturing both the celebratory and ceremonial aspects of weddings, but also the sense of patriotism and occasion that will no doubt be prevalent around the time of the Royal Wedding.

A new release in the Naxos wedding music series, ‘A Choral Wedding’ is a 2 CD collection of popular choral anthems and favourite hymns which have been chosen specifically as suggestions for brides and grooms planning church weddings with a choir.

CD 1 includes a variety of anthems from the popular Anglican tradition such as Wesley’s Blessed be the God and Father and Parry’s I was glad through to classical evergreens such as Mozart’s Laudate Dominum and Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine. There are some seasonal items too – Stainer’s God so loved the world for an Easter wedding and Lauridsen’s O magnum mysterium for a Christmas wedding.

CD 2 is a re-packaged version of Abide with Me (8557578), and includes a wide selection of congregational hymns such as sing-along favourites Jerusalem and Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven.

Favourite hymns from Sunday school days. The choice of cheerful and uplifting hymns is reassuringly traditional and includes many which will be remembered from occasions such as weddings and christenings. A good album to accompany CDG1030, Music for a Church Wedding.