Reviews for
GMCD 7101 - Canticum Novum
Choirs of Salisbury Cathedral
Source: Laudate
The title 'Canticum Novum' is justified on a number of counts, but two in particular.
To begin with, Guild Music Ltd. have recently taken over Guild Records (previously run,
over lengthy period, by Nicholas Ware and Barry Rose): a feature on this new development
will appear in the next issue of Laudate. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly
for most readers, this marks the debut recording of Salisbury's recently-established team
of girl choristers - and an outstanding debut it is!
'New' does not end there, however, for a number of new, or recently-composed works, one
(Robert Chilcott's anthem Even such is time) specially written to include the girls
of the Cathedral choir, make their first appearance on record. Readers with a sense of
irony will find it strange that the boys, not the girls, are the treble participants in
Richard Shephard's anthem The old order changeth!
All the ingredients for an interesting and enterprising programme, then, have been set
out, and no listener can possibly be disappointed by either music or performances.
Salisbury has been within the very top flight of cathedral choirs for many years, and
Richard Seal, without question, is one of the country's leading choir trainers, than whom
nobody is better suited to mastermind the establishment of the country's first cathedral
girls' choir. Moreover, the girls have speedily achieved a level of real excellence, a
perfect match for the boys (if any such odious comparisons must be made): both groups are
clearly on best form here, well complemented by Salisbury's excellent men and superb organ
playing, in both solos and accompaniments from David Halls.
Familiar and unfamiliar sit side by side; so that the recording opens with a most
atmospheric and spacious performance of Parry's My soul, there is a country, with
boys and men, to be followed by the girls debut (with men and organ) in Philip Moore's
marvellous Brittenesque setting of words from Ecclesaisticus 1 and Psalm 119. No need to
itemise everything; all the performances are fine, and some are outstanding. Two of these
finest performances are those of Britten's Hymn to the Virgin, sung so sensitively
by girls and men, and the final piece in which boys, men,. organ and (for this one item)
solo trumpet combine to provide a most exhilarating performance of Richard Shephard's
Eastertide anthem Ye choirs of New Jerusalem.
The recording, like the performances, is excellent. This is a 'must' for every church
musician's record collection, certainly the most enterprising and original Anglican
cathedral disc to come your reviewer's way in a long time.
Roger Wilkes
FROM THE "CHURCH TIMES' CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEWSPAPER
SALISBURY CATHEDRAL PIONEERED THE GIRLS' CHOIR; AND THE FRUITS OF
THAT INITIATIVE CAN BE HEARD ON CANTICUM NOVUM A NEW GUILD DISC DISTRIBUTED BY GAMUT (GMCD
7101), WRITES RODERIC DUNNEN.
BY KEEPING THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' CHOIRS SEPARATE, RICHARD SEAL HAS ALLOWED EACH TO
RETAIN ITS EXCELLENCE. THE SOUND IS UNCANNILY SIMILAR, SO WORKING TOGETHER OF OCCASIONS
(NOT MERGING) IS CLEARLY AN OPTION.
ON THE DISC THE LAURELS GO TO THE GIRL'S AT EASE IN BOTH THE CATCHY RHYTHMS OF PHILIP
MOORE'S ALL WISDOM COMETH FROM THE LORD AND THE POUNDING OSTINATI OF ROBERT
CHILCOTT'S EVEN SUCH IS TIME. THEIR POULENC IS STYLISH AND THEIR PSALMS UP TO
SCRATCH ; THOUGH BRITTEN'S HYMN TO THE VIRGIN IS JUST A FRACTION TOO TIMID. THE
BOYS SHOW THEIR METTLE BEST IN RICHARD LLOYD'S SALISBURY SERVICE A WORK THEY
CLEARLY KNOW WELL. THE MEN SUPPORT INTELLIGENTLY THROUGHOUT.
Page revised 03.09.2000
|
