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SAMUEL SEBASTIAN WESLEY
(1810-1876)
1.
Blessed be the God and Father
7:23
Anthem for four-part choir and organ
'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ' -
'But as He Which hath calleth you is holy' -
Peter Hicks treble
'Love one another with a pure heart fervently' -
Peter Hicks treble
'Being born again' -
'But the word of the Lord endureth for ever'
2.
Wash me throughly from my wickedness
4:35
Anthem for four-part choir and organ
'Wash me throughly from my wickedness' -
Jason Cobb treble
'For I acknowledge my faults'
Ascribe unto the Lord
14:00
Anthem for four-part choir and organ
3.
'Ascribe unto the Lord' -
2:36
4.
'O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness' -
3:05
Alex D'Oyly treble 1
Andrew Jones treble 2
Peter Hicks treble 3
James Imam counter-tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
5.
'As for the gods of the heathen' -
2:16
6.
'They that make them are like unto them' -
2:00
James Iman counter-tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
Samuel Oladeinde tenor
Basil McDonald bass
'As for our God, he is in heaven' -
7.
'The Lord hath been mindful of us'
3:47
Peter Hicks treble
James Imam counter-tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
Huw Leslie tenor
8.
Psalms 42 and 43
7:27
Psalm chant for four-part choir and organ
Psalm 42
'Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks' -
Psalm 43
'Give sentence with me, O God' -
'Glory be to the Father, and to the Son'
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis
10:13
from Morning and Evening Service
in E major - in E-Dur - en mi majeur
9.
Magnificat
6:46
for eight-part choir and organ
'My soul doth magnify the Lord' -
'And His mercy is on them that fear Him' -
James Imam counter-tenor
Alexander Simpson counter-tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
Samuel Oladeinde tenor
Kieran Brunt tenor
Basil McDonald bass
Geoffrey Clapham bass
'He hath shewed strength with His arm' -
'He rememb'ring His mercy hath holpen his servant Israel' -
'Glory be to the Father, and to the Son'
10.
Nunc dimittis
3:24
for eight-part choir and organ
'Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace' -
'Glory be to the Father, and to the Son'
The wilderness and the solitary place
12:38
Anthem for five-part choir and organ
11.
'The wilderness and the solitary place' -
2:17
Peter Hicks treble
James Imam counter-tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
Basil McDonald
12.
'Say to them of a fearful heart' -
2:33
Basil McDonald bass
13.
'Then shall the lame man leap as an hart' -
3:21
Peter Hicks treble
James Imam counter-tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
Basil McDonald bass
'And a highway shall be there' -
'But the redeemed shall walk there' -
Alex D'Oyly treble
Peter Hicks treble
James Imam counter-tenor
Alexander Simpson counter-tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
14.
'And the ransomed of the Lord shall return' -
2:23
15.
'And sorrow and sighing shall flee away' -
2:01
Alec D'Oyly treble
James Imam counter-tenor
Kieran Brunt tenor
Julian Gregory tenor
Basil McDonald bass
16.
Larghetto
5:54
in F sharp minor - in fis-Moll - en fa dièse mineur
No. 2 from Three Pieces for a Chamber Organ, Book II
O give thanks unto the Lord
8:12
Anthem for five-part choir and organ
17.
'O give thanks unto the Lord' -
2:48
18.
'Who can express the noble acts of the Lord' -
3:24
Peter Hicks treble
19.
'Blessed are they that alway keep judgment'
1:57
Peter Hicks treble
James Imam counter-tenor
Samuel Oladeinde tenor
Geoffrey Clapham bass
20.
O Thou who camest from above
2:41
Hymn for four-part choir and organ
21.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
3:55
Anthem for five-part choir and organ
77:10
Solo:John Challenger organ
Choral: Choir of St. Johns College, Cambridge
Conductor:Andrew Nethsingha
20-22 April 2012
Notes
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 album, 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, Ascribe unto the Lord (1851) acts as a mature counterpart to the youthful Wilderness, and sets out in miniature the sentiments of Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah, while staying true to the melodic exuberance of the composer himself.
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.
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Reviews
“… This most enjoyable survey of his [Wesley’s] sacred compositions includes several of his best known works, including substantial anthems with contrasting sections… Any aficionado of Anglican church music owes it to himself to explore this. The St John’s College Choir performs with admirable facility and sincere sacred sentiment. Chandos sees to exceptional sound quality as well as a complete and useful booklet.”
Lindsay Koob – American Record Guide – September/October 2013
“...this disc ranks highly as a basic compendium of Wesley’s music Andrew Nethsingha conducts vibrant performance of some of Wesley’s most famous works.”
William Kreindler - MusicWeb-International.com – May 2013
"... St John’s College Choir goes all out to explore the drama, interacting with John Challenger’s organ playing the overall effect is enjoyable..."
David Hansell - Early Music Review - June 2013
“This is a lovely CD of fine music, beautifully performed and recorded. A demonstration disc all round. The presentation is excellent.” *****
Eve Edwards – Musical Opinion magazine – May-June 2013
" As an introduction to the oeuvre of Wesley this disc is an unequivocal success. I hope that this choir will complete the picture with a recording of some of the lesser-known compositions..."
Johan van Veen - MusicWeb-International.com - April 2013
“Andrew Nethsingha directs splendidly, the performance as broad and grand as one could wish this is a disc to uplift the spirits.”
Richard Lawrence – Gramophone magazine – April 2013
Performance **** Recording *****
“...this is an attractive programme, sung with expertise and devotion.”
Terry Blain – BBC Music magazine – April 2013
“Challenger is clearly firmly in his element here, his lusty accompaniments unashamedly full-blooded and his dexterity verging on the miraculous If Challenger is having fun, the choir is having an absolute ball it is inconceivable that he [Wesley] could ever have imagined his music being performed with such consummate technical skill and musical artistry, or by a choir of such immaculate blend and taut ensemble as this”
Marc Rochester – International Record Review – March 2013
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