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Track(s) taken from CDA67680

The Preces and Responses

composer
1961; for the Reverend Dr A W Adams; 'as sung at Magdalen College, Oxford'
author of text

Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell (conductor)
Recording details: June 2007
Westminster Abbey, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Jeremy Summerly
Engineered by David Hinitt
Release date: April 2008
Total duration: 7 minutes 27 seconds

Cover artwork: Westminster Abbey (1904) by John Fulleylove (1845-1908)
Mary Evans Picture Library, Blackheath, London
 

Reviews

‘Everything is a joy here, including the modern works, the anthem Viri Galilaei by Patrick Gowers and Francis Pott's brilliant Toccata for organ, played with assured virtuosity by Robert Quinney. The choir of Westminster Abbey under James O'Donnell sing with the happy care which his choristers at the Cathedral used to bring to their work with him’ (Gramophone)

‘This close-your-eyes and you're there service is almost matter-of-fact in its excellence … it's good to see that English cathedral music is still intact: its future is represented by Francis Pott's Toccata, commandingly played by Robert Quinney, which rounds off a truly feel-good recording for cathedral music fans’ (Choir & Organ)

‘This addition to Westminster Abbey's invaluable series of music for feast-days gets off to a cracking start with Stanford's magnificent eight-part motet Caelos ascendit hodie. This sets a jubilant tone for the whole programme, which contains some outstanding 20th-century contributions to the Anglican repertoire, including Britten's Festival Te Deum with its exciting organ effects, Finzi's triumphant God is gone up and Patrick Gowers's Viri Galilaei, whose meditative opening leads to a paean of exultation. All these, and Schutz's Der 100. Psalm, are sung with exhilarating panache’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘No one does this grand scale of Anglican service music better than Westminster Abbey, and again the performances of this very demanding music are of the highest order … truly a triumphant recording’ (American Record Guide)

‘The planning is astute … just as cunning is the way some old cathedral favourites nestle alongside more contemporary settings. O clap your hands and God is gone up may be Anglican staples, but they are given fresh and energetic renditions here, while the brief Stanford motet at the start is a most exhilarating introduction. Best of all, perhaps, is Ascension motet Viri Galilaei by Patrick Gowers … this splendid and dramatic setting with its concluding triumphant hymn is further vibrant proof of his sympathetic writing for voices’ (International Record Review)

‘After seven years at the helm, James O'Donnell has made a formidable singing outfit of the Westminster Abbey Choir … the treble line is robust and thrilling, its soloist, Jacob Ewens, a sinuous star in Britten's Te Deum in E’ (The Times)

‘Another offering to lift the soul heavenwards from James O'Donnell and his choir, as they continue their exploration of liturgical repertoire across the centuries … the first thing that hits you about the singing is the celebratory tone. The boys might be singing Stanford's Caelos ascendit hodie, but they could just as easily be trilling 'Woohoo! It's Ascension Day!'. I love such musical joie de vivre, and not every choir is able to produce it convincingly as these chaps. It doesn't come at the expense of quality, though; this is Westminster Abbey Choir at their crystalline best, with spot-on pitching, enviable articulation and sympathetic phrasing … it is a stirring, beautifully judged programme of music, performed to the highest standard’ (bbc.co.uk)
The Preces and Responses are by Bernard Rose, who for many years was Informator choristarum at Magdalen College, Oxford. In addition to his influential work as a choir trainer, he was a scholar and editor of Tudor church music. His tuneful and attractive responses are a mainstay of the Anglican choral repertory. The treble line of the choral response ‘And make thy chosen people joyful’ quotes the chimes of the Magdalen College clock.

from notes by James O'Donnell © 2008

Les Preces et les Responses sont de Bernard Rose, qui fut durant de nombreuses années Informator choristarum à Magdalen College (Oxford)—une charge de formateur choral qui lui valait une certaine influence et venait s’ajouter à son double statut de spécialiste et d’éditeur de la musique liturgique Tudor. Ses mélodieux et séduisants responses sont l’une des bases du répertoire choral anglican. La ligne de treble du response choral «And make thy chosen people joyful» reprend les carillons de l’horloge de Magdalen College.

extrait des notes rédigées par James O'Donnell © 2008
Français: Hyperion Records Ltd

Die Preces und Responses sind von Bernard Rose, der viele Jahre lang Informator choristarum am Magdalen College, Oxford, war. Abgesehen von seiner einflussreichen Arbeit als Chorausbilder war er als Forscher und Herausgeber von Kirchenmusik der Tudorzeit tätig. Seine melodiösen und attraktiven Responsorien sind ein fundamental im anglikanischen Chorrepertoire. Die Oberstimme des Chorresponsoriums „And make thy chosen people joyful“ zitiert das Geläute der Uhr des Magdalen College.

aus dem Begleittext von James O'Donnell © 2008
Deutsch: Renate Wendel

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