£12.77 £10.64 Ex vat
The Choir of Bath Abbey
Shean Bowers organ, Olly Chubb trumpet
directed by Huw Williams
Description
A beautiful collection of choral works celebrating love, hope, and charity through music that consoles and uplifts.
Recorded in February 2022, this is the first recording made by the Choir of Bath Abbey, under their director, Huw Williams, since resuming singing after over eighteen months of lockdown, and features music which provides solace for those suffering challenge and loss. The glorious singing of the Abbey’s boys, girls and lay clerks again resonates through the hallowed walls of this historic and beautifulbuilding.
Track List
Ubi caritas – Ola Gjeilo
3:26Litanei, D. 343 – Franz Schubert▴
The Sleeping Soul – Judith Bingham*
5:10Song for Athene – John Tavener
5:33How can I keep from singing? – Robert Lowry, arr John Scott▴
3:31God be in my head – John Rutter*
1:49Greater love hath no man – John Ireland*
5:53Psalm 121 – Henry Walford Davies
3:06Lord, you have been my dwelling place - Huw Williams
4:16Nunc dimittis – Geoffrey Burgon*†
2:44The day thou gavest – Clement Cotterill Scholefield descant John Scott*
3:18Nimrod from Enigma Variations – Edward Elgar organ solo*
4:23Faire is the heaven – William Harris
4:47Lo, the full final sacrifice – Gerald Finzi*
14:13 Blessed are the pure in heart – Henry Walford Davies*
1:43For the Fallen – Mark Blatchly*†
4:39Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts – Henry Purcell*
1:57Abide with me – William Henry Monk, vv 3 and 5, descant Huw Williams*
4:26 total playing time 79:07
Production credits
Recorded 16–18 February 2022
Recording producer and engineer: Gary Cole
Recording assistant: Pippa Cole
Sample audio extracts
Reviews
‘After a long absence during the pandemic, the 61 choristers have returned to give exciting and exhilarating performances of 18 pieces, both familiar and unfamiliar. Their rich, vibrant, and colorful sound is infused with an engaging musicality, and their performance of John Ireland’s beloved ‘Greater Love hath no Man’, will knock your socks off… A real gem.’ American Record Guide March/April 2023
‘A beautifully planned and executed programme… We [also] hear girls, boys and adults singing splendidly together… I expected to like this disc; reader, I loved it.’ ★★★★★ Choir& Organ March 2023
‘…a record of a choir at the peak of its powers…a rewarding and moving CD ★★★ Church Music Quarterly March 2023
‘Delightful performances from the Bath Abbey Choir with singing that not only uplifts the soul, is well-balanced, has good rich tone and manages to be appropriately delicate and restrained or intense as the music demands. Huw Williams brings a fresh approach to each of the works and Shean Bowers’ exciting and outstanding playing makes this an attractive disc.’ Yorkshire Times November 2022
‘The superb acoustic imparts life to the wonderful and versatile Klais organ of 1997, and must be a joy to sing in. Bath must be proud of this strong musical and choral tradition. This well-balanced and, indeed, consoling sequence can happily be listened to uninterruptedly.’
Organists’ Review May 2023
‘The choral sound is very refined, with elegant phrasing and intonation. ’ The American Organist June 2023
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