I saw the Lord (Stainer) - from CDA67557 - Hyperion Records

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Track(s) taken from CDA67557

Digital booklet (PDF)

I saw the Lord

composer

Sir John Stainer (1840-1901)

author of text

Bible

Isaiah 6: 1-4

translator of text

John David Chambers (1803-1893)

Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell (conductor), Robert Quinney (organ)

Recording details: June 2005
Westminster Abbey, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Jeremy Summerly
Engineered by Simon Eadon
Release date: November 2005
Total duration: 7 minutes 15 seconds

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Reviews

‘James O'Donnell proves himself master of two Westminster traditions: the Collegiate Abbey style is as assured as his former 'continental' Cathedral persona. Best are the persuasively-layered Britten Te Deum, and conspicuously bouncy Walton Jubilate. The Tomkins reponses almost purr with effortless control’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘This is glorious music sung to perfection’ (American Record Guide)

‘I'm so taken with this program that I frankly rebel at the notion of spending one sentence, much less a paragraph, on the topic of alternative recordings’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘The setting's generous acoustics play their own part, bathing the entire recording in a warm, luxuriant glow. Those with even the vaguest interest in choral music will undoubtedly want to add this fine recording to their collection’ (HMV Choice)

Introduction
English

It is often said that I saw the Lord was written with the acoustics of St Paul's in mind. It is scored for double choir with an independent organ part. The music's drama is achieved by the simple, largely homophonic texture, and the interplay of the two chorus parts with that of the organ. Stainer breaks into an imitative texture at the words 'and the house was filled with smoke' and again in the final verse section, which is reminiscent of a Victorian part-song.

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