Album insights
This CD features music suitable for visiting Westminster Abbey on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, commonly known as Michaelmas. The program represents the structure of the three main choral services on a high feast day, tracing back to traditional ceremonies from the monastic era: Matins, Eucharist, and Evensong.
Matins (Morning Prayer)
The CD opens with the work of English composer Richard Dering, who converted to Catholicism and served as an organist in Brussels before returning to London in 1625. The Motet Factum est silentium portrays the battle between Archangel Michael and the forces of darkness, showcasing Dering's exquisite composition in six voices.
Kenneth Leighton's Preces and Responses reflect his adeptness in creating choral music for Anglican liturgy, blending a stern harmonic style with practicality. The compositions have earned a prominent place in choir repertoires for their expressive quality, especially in the Lord's Prayer setting.
The Psalms were central to the monastic daily prayers, with Psalm 148 performed in a traditional manner by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford in this rendition, where the choristers alternate verses.
Following is Ralph Vaughan Williams' Te Deum in G, composed for the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1928. The piece features dynamic changes, transitioning between choirs and organ, culminating in a serene conclusion.
Benjamin Britten's Jubilate in C provides a lively contrast, commissioned for the choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The work showcases a cheerful organ motif and concise vocal phrases.
French composer Jean Langlais' Messe solennelle, notable for its modal harmonies and intricate choral writing, stands as a significant work in 20th-century church music. The composition, demonstrating a blend of styles and dramatic organ interludes, portrays various moods throughout the Mass parts.
The CD also includes Sir Michael Tippett's anthem, Plebs angelica, a noteworthy English choral piece. The Latin composition, evoking Tudor-era music, offers a fresh and modern interpretation of older styles, emphasizing the text's drama and nuances.
Evensong (Evening Prayer)
The evening prayer opens with Psalm 91 set to music by Sir Walter Alcock, followed by compositions from the 450th anniversary celebrations of St John's College, Cambridge, where Sir Michael Tippett contributed with his Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, creating distinct and individual settings.
Herbert Howells' A Sequence for St Michael, composed for the same anniversary, presents a dramatic interpretation of a Latin text, showcasing Howells' mastery in harmonies and evocative choral writing. The work features solo passages and rich choral textures.
The CD concludes with Jonathan Harvey's Laus Deo for Organ, inspired by a vivid dream involving an angelic organist playing a trumpet fanfare, carrying echoes of Messiaen's influence throughout the composition, incorporating ethereal silences and fervent energy.
James O'Donnell © 2007
Translator: Renate Wendel