Wesley: Sacred Choral Works Choir Organ Chandos

SAMUEL SEBASTIAN WESLEY

(1810-1876)

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'

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

'Ascribe unto the Lord' -

2:36

'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

'As for the gods of the heathen' -

2:16

'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' -

'The Lord hath been mindful of us'

3:47

Peter Hicks treble

James Imam counter-tenor

Julian Gregory tenor

Huw Leslie tenor

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

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

Total time: 77:10

Solo: John Challenger organ

Choral: Choir of St Johns College, Cambridge

Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha

20-22 April 2012

“… 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

My Wish List