Album insights
The CD features music intended to be heard when visiting Westminster Abbey on the feast day of Saint Peter, falling on June 29. The music program follows the structure of the three major Anglican church services—Matins, Eucharist, and Evensong—that can all be traced back to pre-Reformation times when the Abbey was a Benedictine monastery. Key musical elements include William Byrd's five-voice Mass and four sections from Charles Villiers Stanford's Service in B flat major, bridging Morning and Evening Prayer.
The CD commences with a Choral Fanfare by Maurice Duruflé honoring Saint Peter, setting a vibrant tone. It's a concise piece based on a well-known Gregorian chant, reflecting Jesus' empowering words to Peter. Following this are Preces and Responses by Philip Radcliffe, known for their warmth. Henry George Ley's Psalm 138 leads into the Te Deum and Jubilate from Stanford's B flat major Service, showcasing his musical versatility.
Stanford's B flat major Service, op. 10, embodies a new symphonic approach, integrating the organ as a significant musical element. Each section of the Service represents a part of a symphony, demonstrating a unique and structured composition technique. Byrd's Mass for five voices, composed around the 1590s, distinguishes itself with its diverse composition style, offering a refined and cohesive liturgical experience.
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's powerful composition Tu es Petrus highlights the Eucharist section, illustrating the renowned Italian composer's craftsmanship. The CD further includes musical pieces by William Crotch, Stanford's Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, and William Walton's monumental work The Twelve, blending text and music seamlessly. Marcel Dupré's arrangement of a Bach cantata piece serves as a grand finale, capturing the grandeur of the occasion.
In summary, the CD encapsulates a range of sacred music celebrating the Feast of Saint Peter at Westminster Abbey, showcasing the works of prominent composers within the Anglican choral tradition.