The Psalms (Live) Choir of St John's College, Cambridge & Andrew Nethsingha

• Henry Gauntlett (1805 - 1876), William Hine (1687 - 1730): I Will Love Thee, O Lord (Psalm 18) [Live]:
• 1 Gauntlett, Hine: I Will Love Thee, O Lord (Psalm 18) [Live] 05:52
• Percy Whitlock (1903 - 1946): The Lord is King (Psalm 99) [Live]:
• 2 Whitlock: The Lord is King (Psalm 99) [Live] 02:48
• Alan Hemmings (1931 - 2018): Lord, Thou Art Become Gracious (Psalm 85) [Live]:
• 3 Hemmings: Lord, Thou Art Become Gracious (Psalm 85) [Live] 04:54
• Robert Ash eld (1911 - 2006): In Jewry is God Known (Psalm 76) [Live]:
• 4 Ashfield: In Jewry is God Known (Psalm 76) [Live] 03:00
• Charles Hylton Stewart (1884 - 1932): Why Boastest Thou Thyself, Thou Tyrant (Psalm 52) [Live]:
• 5 Stewart: Why Boastest Thou Thyself, Thou Tyrant (Psalm 52) [Live] 02:48
• William Prendergast (1868 - 1933): O Lord God of My Salvation (Psalm 88) [Live]:
• 6 Prendergast: O Lord God of My Salvation (Psalm 88) [Live] 06:47
• Thomas Attwood (1765 - 1838): Bring Unto the Lord, O Ye Mighty (Psalm 29) [Live]:
• 7 Attwood: Bring Unto the Lord, O Ye Mighty (Psalm 29) [Live] 03:17
• Christopher Robinson (b. 1936): Why Do the Heathen So Furiously Rage (Psalm 2) [Live]:
• 8 Robinson: Why Do the Heathen So Furiously Rage (Psalm 2) [Live] 03:36
• Highmore Skeats Jr. (1787 - 1835): O Lord, Thou Hast Searched (Psalm 139) [Live]:
• 9 Jr.: O Lord, Thou Hast Searched (Psalm 139) [Live] 06:53
• Christopher Robinson: O Praise the Lord of Heaven (Psalm 148) [Live]:
• 10 Robinson: O Praise the Lord of Heaven (Psalm 148) [Live] 03:38
• Henry Walford Davies (1869 - 1941): I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto the Hills (Psalm 121) [Live]:
• 11 Davies: I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto the Hills (Psalm 121) [Live] 03:04
• Ivor Atkins (1869 - 1953): I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me (Psalm 122) [Live]:
• 12 Atkins: I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me (Psalm 122) [Live] 02:42
• William Crotch (1775-1847): Unto Thee Lift I Up Mine Eyes (Psalm 123) [Live]:
• 13 Crotch: Unto Thee Lift I Up Mine Eyes (Psalm 123) [Live] 02:20
• Total Runtime 51:39

Info for The Psalms (Live)

A collection of the Psalms set to Anglican chant, an integral element of services sung by the choir. The release of the album coincides with Andrew Nethsingha's 15th anniversary as Director of Music.

Andrew says of the album: "Psalm-singing, one of the most subtle forms of choral singing, is at the heart of the St John’s choir’s musical identity. The psalms inform everything else we perform - technically, musically, emotionally. In 1977 George Guest made a deeply moving Argo LP ‘Psalms of Consolation and Hope’, one of my favourite choral albums. All George's successors - Christopher Robinson, David Hill and myself - have sought to continue the distinctive St John’s style of psalm-singing. The chemistry which each choir-director has with their singers is unique. I have written extensively about my own thoughts on psalm-singing, and on the beauty of the words and music, in the booklet notes; I hope these notes will enhance the listener’s enjoyment and involvement in the album. The Psalms affect listeners in different ways. They can be profound and transformational not only for Christians; some psalms can be entrancing and healing.”

Exploring settings of psalms from the eighteenth century through to the twentieth by composers steeped in the English choral tradition, the repertoire on this recording has been chosen and ordered carefully in terms of contrast and key relationships. Featuring psalm chants from composers such as Percy Whitlock, Henry Walford Davies and Thomas Attwood, the album also features music from a former Director of Music at St John’s, Christopher Robinson, with his settings of Psalm 2 (Why do the heathen so furiously rage) and Psalm 148 (O Praise the Lord of Heaven).

This release also marks the latest in a series of recordings that celebrates the music performed in Evensong, with previous releases Eastertide Evensong and Ash Wednesday focusing on live recordings of their Evensong services. Both releases were critically acclaimed, with their Ash Wednesday recording dubbed as “glistening and ethereal throughout” (BBC Music Magazine).

Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
James Anderson-Besant, organ (tracks 6, 12, 13)
Glen Dempsey, organ (tracks 1, 3, 7-10)
George Herbert, organ (tracks 2, 4, 5)
Andrew Nethsingha, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for The Psalms (Live)