Sir Philip Ledger

Review: Superb ensemble singing from simply one of the finest choirs in the world. Philip Ledger's tenure at King's was relatively short but he produced a sublime sound from the choir. Then are many jewels on this disc from Lotti's 'Crucifixus' to the simply beautiful interpretation of Orlando Gibbon's 'Drop, drop slow tears'. Perfection in delivery and hauntingly beautiful tone quality mark this performance of some glorious holy week music. "The Lamentations of Jeremiah" are usually transmitted as a single piece in most contemporary manuscripts, but they are really two separate compositions in different modes. Tallis and his contemporary John Sheppard were the only 2 English composers of the time to compose hymn settings of any quality. It has been suggested that they had it in mind to compose a cycle of settings for Mary Tudor's chapel. "O Nata lux" may belong to this Marian set. It is almost entirely homophonic, and relies rhetorically upon a flexible declamatory style. " Salvator Mundi" is one of Tallis's best-known motets. The masterly treatment of imitative writing is combined with a fine sense of structure and balance, achieved through repetition, to give a sense of large-scale design, a feature characteristic of Tallis's best large-scale compositions. And the most beautiful anthem on the disc: Tallis's "If Ye Love Me". So much wonderful music, exquisitely sung; a delcious Easter treat!

Songlist: Lamentations Of Jeremiah, O Nata Lux, Salvator Mundi, If Ye Love Me, Crucifixus, There Is A Green Hill Far Away, O Vos Omnes, Nolo Mortem Peccatoris, Tristis Est Anima Mea, Crux Fidelis, Videte Omnes Populi, Drop Drop Slow Tears, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, Dum Transisset Sabbatum, Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, The Joyful Eastertide, Haec Dies, Let All The World In Every Corner Sing

Review: Orlando Gibbons began his association with Kings College, Cambridge as a chorister under the direction of his eldest brother from 1596 to 1598. His talent was such that by the age of 21 he was sharing the duties as an organist. In 1623 he accepted the additional appointment as organist at Westminster Abbey; but he died suddenly just 2 years later. He was not a prolific composer, but his works include many masterpieces some of which are on this disc. One of his most outstanding verse anthems is: "This is the record of John". It is recorded on this disc by the Kings College Choir featuring Michael Chance as the countertenor soloist; and few have ever performed this as well as Chance. His tone quality, his diction, his emotional investment in the music goes way beyond other renditions. Another bright spot in this group of pieces is the verse anthem: "See, see, the word is incarnate" featuring the choir with a group of outstanding soloists: Paul Smy (boy soprano); Chance, Jones (altos); Daniels, Rivers (tenors);Finley (bass).Some of the other selections are: anthems: "A Mighty and Everlasting God"; "Lift up your heads". The London Early Music group does much of the accompanying. The Choir with its boy sopranos and male altos are dictionally perfect and so enjoyable to hear.

Songlist: Almighty and Everlasting God, Magnificat, Voluntary, Nunc Dimittis, Fantasia for Double Organ, Magnificat, Now Shall the Praises of the Lord be Sung, Nunc Dimittis, This Is The Record of John, O Lord of Hosts, O Thou, The Central Orb, A Song of Joy Unto the Lord We Sing, See, see, The Word is Incarnate, Come Kiss Me With Those Lips of Thine, Lift Up Your Heads, Fantasia, Hosanna To The Son of David

Review: Voices of Praise is a spiritually uplifting collection drawing from the rich catalog of King's College Choir. Programmed to the church calendar it is an album for all seasons. Known world over for their recordings of church music the Choir of King's College, Cambridge has a rich catalog of recordings on EMI Classics dating back more than 30 years. This new collection Voices of Praise offers the most popular church music from that catalog. Among the great church works included on this recording are the hymns " A Mighty Fortress Is Our God", " Morning Has Broken" and " All People That On Earth Do Dwell" (The Old Hundredth). This is a double CD release.

Songlist: All My Hope On God Is Founded (Michael), Morning Has Broken, Psalm 122, Totus Tuus, The truth sent from above, The Lamb, Hail, Gladdening Light, Psalm 84 "Quam Dilecta!", Come Down, O Love Divine, If Ye Love Me, Crucifixus a 8 Voix, My song is love unknown, Psalm 22: My God, my God, look upon me, Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, Thine be the glory (tune Maccabeaus, after Handel), No. 120, Psalm 148 O praise the Lord of Heaven, Set me as a seal upon thine heart, The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns, O clap your hands, God Is Our Hope & Strength, The lord ascendeth up on high (Nun freut euch), Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Gloucester Service, Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein feste Burg), Psalm 150 O praise the God in his holiness, All People That on Earth Do Dwell, The Lord Is My Shepherd, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, And I Saw a New Heaven, Funeral Ikos, Faire Is the Heaven