Hear My Words: Choral Classics from St. John's Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge & Andrew Nethsingha

• 1 Il salmo Miserere mei Deus 14:07
• 2 Ave, maris stella (version for choir) 03:20
• 3 Bogoroditse Djevo (Mother of God and Virgin) 01:17
• 4 All-night Vigil, Op. 37, 'Vespers': Hail, O Virgin Mother (Ave Maria) 02:52
• 5 Ave Maria 05:42
• 6 Motets for 5-8 Voices: Book 5 for 5 Voices: Exultate Deo 02:27
• 7 Agnus Dei 06:32
• 8 A New Song 05:12
• 9 Panis angelicus 03:43
• 10 Jubilate Deo 03:17
• 11 O Taste and See 01:38
• 12 O Lord, thou hast searched me out 07:38
• 13 Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11 05:30
• 14 Hear my words, ye people 14:12
• Total Runtime 01:17:27

Info for Hear My Words: Choral Classics from St. John's

As exclusive Chandos artists, the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge here presents its second release. The first album, of choral music by Howells (CHAN10587), was released to rave reviews in March this year. Choir and Organ wrote: ‘There is musicianship here of a rare and moving kind.’ This new release of popular choral classics should meet with a similar reception while at the same time appealing to a wider audience. Established in the 1670s, the Choir of St John’s has a distinguished tradition of performing religious music. Its main duty is singing the daily services in the College Chapel during the University Term. During the University vacation the Choir carries out engagements in the UK and overseas, as well as undertaking a busy recording schedule. This particular release was recorded in the College Chapel in full surround-sound. The disc not only sounds spectacular, but recreates to an uncanny degree the experience of listening to the Choir perform in the chapel. The music itself represents a time span of nearly 500 years of choral music. The earliest piece dates from the first half of the sixteenth century, and the newest was composed as recently as 2007. The styles and genres are varied, but there are clear links between the works throughout. For example, several are based on texts from the psalms, and the works by Pärt, Parsons, and Rachmaninoff offer three radically different interpretations of the Ave Maria. Some of the works also add a solo instrument to the familiar mix of voices and organ. But perhaps most importantly, all the pieces recorded here sit comfortably under the heading of ‘Popular Choral Classics’.

Allegri’s Miserere is counted among the great classics of church music. Part of its mystique stems from its origins; for many years the work was performed only in the Sistine Chapel, and as with other works tied to a single place it became an object for pilgrimage. In this case the pilgrims included Mendelssohn, as well as Mozart who famously noted down the work from memory after leaving the Vatican, thereby risking excommunication by the Catholic Church. This new release also features Stanford’s Jubilate, which was written for Trinity College, Cambridge. Intended as part of the service of Morning Prayer, it has long been one of the most popular canticles in the Anglican repertoire. In keeping with the text, Psalm 100, the tone is festive throughout.

“A word of reassurance to those who fear that this may be a 'lovely' programme of hallowed pot-boilers...If these are indeed, as the title proclaims, 'choral classics', that term must have been stretched to include all that is old and good...There are also pieces of modernity...The famous choir appear to thrive under Andrew Nethsinga's management.” (GRAMOPHONE)

Allegri: Miserere mei, Deus
Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11
Timothy Ravalde, Organ
Graham Walker, Cello
Franck, C: Panis Angelicus
Grieg: Ave Maris Stella
MacMillan: A New Song
Timothy Ravalde (organ)
Palestrina: Exsultate Deo
Timothy Ravalde (organ)
Parry: Hear my words, ye people
Timothy Ravalde (organ)
Parsons, R: Ave Maria
Pärt: Bogoróditse Djévo
Rachmaninov: Bogorodice Devo
Rutter: O Lord, thou hast searched me out
Timothy Ravalde (organ) & Helen Scarbrough (cor anglais)
Stanford: Jubilate
Tallis: Agnus Dei (Missa Salve intemerata)
Vaughan Williams: O Taste and See


Choir of St John’s College
Andrew Nethsingha


Gregorio Allegri: Il salmo Miserere mei Deus
Il salmo Miserere mei Deus
Edvard Grieg: Ave, maris stella, EG 150 (version for choir)
Ave, maris stella (version for choir)
Arvo Part: Bogoroditse Dyevo (Mother of God and Virgin)
Bogoroditse Djevo (Mother of God and Virgin)
Sergei Rachmaninov: All-night Vigil, Op. 37, 'Vespers'
All-night Vigil, Op. 37, 'Vespers': Hail, O Virgin Mother (Ave Maria)
Robert Parsons: Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Motets for 5-8 Voices: Book 5 for 5 Voices
Motets for 5-8 Voices: Book 5 for 5 Voices: Exultate Deo Thomas Tallis: Agnus Dei
Agnus Dei
James MacMillan: A New Song
A New Song
Cesar Franck: Panis angelicus
Panis angelicus
Charles Villiers Stanford: Jubilate Deo
Jubilate Deo
Ralph Vaughan Williams: O Taste and See
O Taste and See
John Rutter: O Lord, thou hast searched me out
O Lord, thou hast searched me out
Gabriel Faure: Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11
Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11
Hubert Parry: Hear my words, ye people
Hear my words, ye people

Andrew Nethsingha
Performing as a conductor and organist in North America, South Africa, Far East, and throughout Europe, Andrew Nethsingha has been Director of Music at St John’s College, Cambridge since 2007. His innovations at St John’s have included weekly webcasts and a termly Bach cantata series. His recordings for Chandos have been well reviewed.

Andrew Nethsingha received his early musical training as a chorister at Exeter Cathedral, where his father was organist for over a quarter of a century. He later studied at the Royal College of Music, where he won seven prizes, and at St John’s College, Cambridge. He held Organ Scholarships under Christopher Robinson, at St George’s Windsor, and George Guest, at St John’s, before becoming Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral. He was subsequently Director of Music at Truro and Gloucester Cathedrals. Other recent positions have included Artistic Director of the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival and Musical Director of the Gloucester Choral Society.

He has served as President of the Cathedral Organists’ Association. He has worked with some of the UK’s leading orchestras. Andrew’s concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra have included many of the major choral works: Mahler’s 8th Symphony, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Britten War Requiem, Brahms Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius and The Kingdom, Walton Belshazzar’s Feast, Poulenc Gloria and Duruflé Requiem. He has also worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, Britten Sinfonia, the Aarhus Symfoniorkester and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Recent conducting engagements have included the BBC Proms, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Tokyo Suntory Hall. He regularly runs choral courses in various countries, including France and the U.S.A.

The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
is one of the finest collegiate choirs in the world – known and loved by millions from its broadcasts, concert tours and over 90 recordings. Founded in the 1670s, the Choir is known for its rich, warm and distinctive sound, its expressive interpretations and its ability to sing in a variety of styles. Alongside this discipline, the Choir is particularly proud of its happy, relaxed and mutually supportive atmosphere. The Choir is directed by Andrew Nethsingha following in a long line of eminent Directors of Music, recently Dr George Guest, Dr Christopher Robinson and Dr David Hill.

The Choir is known for its consistent high standards of singing each day in Chapel and brings the 'St John's Sound' to listeners around the world each week through its weekly webcasts and SJC Live, our webcast archive service. For more information or if you are interested in becoming a member of the Choir, please click to read further about Choristers, Choral Scholars and Organ Scholars.

The Choir also maintains a busy schedule of concerts and events. The Choir tours internationally several times per year, with recent destinations including the USA, the Far East and the Netherlands. Additionally, there are some special services held through the year including the Advent Carol service, Ash Wednesday Evensong and the Bach Cantata Evensongs.

This album contains no booklet.