£14.50 £12.08 Ex vat
The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge | Britten Sinfonia
Katherine Mann soprano | Bradley Smith tenor
Stuart MacIntyre baritone | Morgan Pearse bass
Adam Field organ and piano
directed by Sarah MacDonald
Available on 23/01/2025
Description
Born in 1934, Bryan Kelly has been an exuberant presence in British musical life for over five decades. He studied composition at the Royal College of Music in London with Gordon Jacob and Herbert Howells. Further study followed in Paris with Nadia Boulanger.
Bryan Kelly has written works in all the main Classical musical genres: symphony, concerto, opera, solo piano, as well as lighter orchestral music, works for brass band, and a notably a distinguished number of vocal works, including ‘Kelly in C’ of 1965 – a ground-breaking and uplifting setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, utilising Latin American rhythms. He writes in an approachable style, with an emphasis on strong melodic lines and rhythms, and demonstrates a consummate control of texture and colour.
This new recording features three works for choir. The first is a major cantata from 1981 for four soloists, choir, and orchestra, based on the life of St Francis of Assisi, written in collaboration with poet, John Fuller.
‘At the round earth’s imagin’d corners’ from 1977, commissioned by the Sheffield Bach Choir, is a equence of six settings of intense religious texts from the 15th to 17th centuries for solo tenor, choir, and string orchestra.
‘For adoration’ is a more recent work, published in 2001, and is a set of five short anthems in contrasting styles for upper voices and organ.
Track List
St Francis of Assisi
The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge | Britten Sinfonia
Katherine Mann soprano | Bradley Smith tenor
Stuart MacIntyre baritone | Morgan Pearse bass
directed by Sarah MacDonald
At the round earth’s imagin’d corners
Bradley Smith tenor (16, 18, 20)
The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge (15, 17, 19, 20)
Britten Sinfonia directed by Sarah MacDonald
For adoration
Upper voices of The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Adam Field organ directed by Sarah MacDonald
St Francis of Assisi
Can you see a man walking upon the hills?
4:21Francis, you were not like other men
2:34You, Francisco Bernadone
3:38How can we understand?
1:51And Francis preached before the people
2:45I, Clara Sciffi
1:15Dear sister Clare
2:16The little hooded lark
3:01And Francis preached to all the birds at Bevagna
3:54Little brother Francis
2:54Through that eye
2:00I am the sultan
6:13Be glorified, my Lord
4:41Little sister lark
3:15At the round earth’s imagin’d corners
At the round earth’s imagin’d corners
2:54Never weather-beaten sail
3:08Oh my blacke Soule!
2:11Drop, drop, slow tears
3:34Done is a battell on the dragon blak
4:17Wilt thou forgive that sin?
4:08For adoration
Come, my way, my truth, my life
2:16Lord, I want to be a Christian
2:22O thou who camest from above
2:08My spirit longs for thee
2:02For adoration seasons change
2:17Total Playing time: 65:57
Production credits
Cover image: Watercolour of Trasimeno by John Newberry
St Francis of Assisi, At the round earth’s imagin’d corners – recorded 9/10 July 2023 in West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
For adoration – recorded 11 July 2023 in Selwyn College Chapel, Cambridge
Producer and editor: Gary Cole.
Engineer: Myles Eastwood