St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
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 recordings, broadcasts and concert tours. The services follow the Cathedral tradition of the Church of England, Evensong being sung during Term six days a week and Sung Eucharist in addition on Sunday mornings. It has fulfilled this role in the life of the College since the 1670s.
The Choir has an extraordinary discography dating back to the 1950s and the Decca/Argo years under George Guest. More recently, the Choir has become well known for the sequence of recordings of English 20th century choral music made by Naxos. Directed by Christopher Robinson, the previous Director of Music, these have sold over 200,000 copies. The Choir now records with Hyperion Records, and has released four discs to date with the label: one of the music of Mendelssohn, a collection of music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Christmas at St John's, a recording of the choral and vocal music of Jongen and Peeters and most recently, a collection of the music of Bairstow. Please click here to view a full listing of CDs available for purchase from the College.
The consistency and particular quality of the Choir has led to many invitations to perform throughout the world; recent tours have taken the Choir to Austria, Estonia and America Its renowned ‘continental sound’ sets it apart from most other English cathedral choirs – there is brilliance and vigour as well as control and discipline.
The Alto, Tenor and Bass parts are taken by young men who are usually undergraduate members of the College and who are selected to their places in the College Choir (and therefore to the University) as Choral Students. There are two Organ Students who assist the Direcotor of Music in the running of the Choir, attending the daily rehearsals for the Choristers at the School, and accompanying the services in Chapel. The College Choir consists of 16 Choristers and 4 Probationers who are appointed at Voice Trials which take place regularly. They are educated at St. John's College School which is situated at the westernmost edge of the College grounds. The School now educates some 455 boys and girls up to the age of 13.
Chorister Voice Trials
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Insanae et vanae curae - Joseph Haydn Cantique de Jean Racine - Faure Thou wilt keep Him - Wesley How lovely are Thy dwellings - Johannes Brahms Ave Verum - Mozart Thou, O God, art praised - Malcolm Boyle Ave Verum - Elgar Locus iste - Bruckner Bring us, O Lord - W.H.Harris Hymn of the Cherubim - Rachmaninov Ave Verum - Byrd O salutaris - Rossini Ave Maria stella Hostia - Grieg Crucifixus - Lotti Denn er hat seinem Engeln - Mendelssohn Ave Maria - Parsons Panis Angelicus - Franck Hymn - Stanford Pie Jesu - Durufle |
As one of England's oldest and most respected male choirs one expects great recordings and this collection of the favourites of director Christopher Robinson is a real treat. Recorded in the Chapel this recording demonstrates the Choir's remarkable repertoire stretching from the 15th century until the present day.
| 8433 CD $15.95 |
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Insane et vanae curae - Haydn Cantique de Jean Racine - Faure Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace - Wesley How lovely are thy dwellings - Brahms Ave Verum - Mozart Thou O God art praised - Boyle Ave Verum - Elgar Locus iste - Bruckner Bring us O Lard - Rachmaninov Hymn of Cherubim - Byrd O Salutaris Hostia - Rossini Ave Maris Stella - Grieg Crucifixus - Lotti Denn er hat seinen Englen befohlen - Bartholdy Ave Verum - Parsons Panis Angelicus - Franck Hymn - Stanford Pie Jesu - Durufle |
Conductor Christopher Robinson directs this historic and highly regarded choir as they perform a thoughtful collection of popular choral music of many of the great composers including Haydn, Fauré, Wesley, Brahms, Mozart, Elgar, Bruckner, Rachmaninov, Byrd, Rossini, Grieg, Mendelssohn, Franck, Stanford and Duruflé.
| 8693 CD $7.95 |
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God Is With Us Song For Athene The Lamb The Tiger Magnificat and Nunc Dimiittis Funeral Ikons Hymns To The Mother of God Love Bade Me Welcome As One Who Has Slept The Lord's Prayer Svyati |
John Tavener is one of contemporary music's most distinctive and recognizable voices; writing deeply felt compositions of instant magnetism and lyrical intensity inspired by a strong Greek Orthodox faith. At the very heart of his work is sacred music, a genre in which Tavener has established considerable fame with contemporary classics such as "The Lamb" and "Hymns To The Mother of God" as well as the elegiac "Song For Athene". "Svyati", for cello and chorus, takes the form of a musical incantation against the hushed voices of the choir. This rarely-heard masterpiece sees Tavener deploy an unusual combination of musical forces to powerful and moving effect.
| 7562 CD $15.98 |
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Aus Tiefer Not Ave Maria Mitten Wir Im Leben Sind Hor Mein Bitten Warum Toben Die Harden Richte Mich Gott Zum Abendsegen Kyrie Eleison Helig Helig Ist Gott Der Herr Zebaoth Ehre Sei Gott in Der Hohe Verleih Uns Frieden O For The Wings |
Nowhere is Mendelssohn’s creative psyche more poignantly exposed than in his choral works. His desire to create music rewarding for performers and listeners alike is everywhere apparent, as is his always mellifluous and gracious vocal writing. Most endearing of all are Mendelssohn’s worlds of dreamlike contentment, which cocoon the listener in a web of enchanted idealism. Hör mein Bitten (Hear my prayer) is the most popular of his small-scale choral works and was composed during Mendelssohn’s eighth visit to England in 1844, just before he began putting the finishing touches to his violin concerto. The piece conjures up the feelings of peace and contentment in the flowing melodic lines of the inimitable O for the wings of a dove, which is also on this disc in its famous English adaptation. All of these sacred works are radiantly performed by The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge under David Hill in the first of a new series of recordings on the Hyperion label.
| 8333 CD $18.95 |
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Jesu, the very thought of thee Blessed city, heavenly Salem Magnificat (Evening Service in D) Nunc Dimittis (Evening Service in D) Lord, Thou hast been our refuge If the Lord had not helped me Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Evening Service in G) Magnificat (Evening Service in G) Nunc Dimittis (Evening Service in G) Come, lovely Name O Lord, in me there lieth naught Praise Purse and Scrip L'Envoy Save us, O Lord |
David Hill's final recording with St John's features music by Edward Bairstow. The diverse programme includes well known pieces such as Let all mortal flesh and Jesu the very thought of thee. The release sees the debut recording of Five Poems of the Spirit, for which the Choir were joined by internationally acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams and the Britten Sinfonia..
| 8665 CD $16.95 |
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Unto Us a Boy Is Born Ding Dong! Merrily on High Balulalow Holly and the Ivy In the Bleak Mid-Winter Sussex Carol I Sing of a Maiden Shepherd's Pipe Carol Silent Night Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Little Town of Bethlehem God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Good King Wenceslas There Is No Rose Two Welsh Carols Away in a Manger O Come, All Ye Faithful |
A fine selection of traditional English Christmas carols sung impeccable by the venerable English choir under the direction of George Guest.
| 8695 CD $9.95 |
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Ave Verum (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Insanae et vanae curae (Joseph Haydn) How lovely aree Thy dwellings (Johannes Brahms) Ave verum (William Byrd) Ave maris stella (Edvard Hagerup Grieg) Locus iste (Anton Bruckner) Denn er hat seinen Engeln (Felix Mendelssohn Bartoldy) Where Thou reignest (Franz Schubert) Bring us, O Lord God (William H. Harris) O! For a closer walk with God (Charles Villiers Stanford) Crucifixus (Antonio Lotti) Pie Jesu Domini (Maurice Durufle) O salutaris hostia (Gioacchino Rossini) Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Faure) Thou, O God, art praiset (Malcolm C. Boyle) Hymn of the Cherubim (Sergei Rachmaninov) Ave Maria (Robert Parsons) Panis angelicus (Cesar Franck) Ave verum (Edward Elgar) Thou will keep him (Samuel Sebastian Wesley) |
The fruitful development of the English Anthem in the 20th century was made possible, some say, by the interest in the genre from composers who were unencumbered by church appointment. The Victorian flowering of English Anthems by Stanford was passed on to his student and successor at Cambridge, Wood, and other students Bainton, Ireland, Harris and Howells. Britten studied under Ireland at the Royal College of Music, and others studied at Oxbridge, Oxford and Cambridge. Stephen Cleobury directs the acclaimed 33-member, all male Choir of King's College in their renditions of these 13 pieces. Charles Wood's "Hail, gladdening light," Edgar Bainton's soaring "And I saw a new heaven," John Ireland's "Greater love hath no man," Wm. Harris' "Faire is the heaven," Edward Naylor's "Vox dicentis: Clama," Britten's "A Hymn of St. Columbia," Leighton's "Let all the world in every corner sing"… this is not easily performed material, but the Choir effortlessly reaches the high scales and challenging harmonies. Light organ accompaniment on most songs, but the focus is on the voices. Dramatic, operatic compositions wonderfully performed by one of England's finest choirs.
| 7699 DVD $16.98 |
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Stabat mater dolorosa Cujus animam gementemc O quam tristis Quae moerebat Quis est homo c Vidit suum Eja mater Fac ut ardeat Sancta mater Fac ut portem Inflammatus et accensus Quando corpus Litanies a La Vierge Noire Timor Et Tremor Vinea Mea Electa Tenebrae Factae Sunt Tristis Est Anima Mea |
Poulenc wrote his Stabat Mater, a hauntingly passionate work, after visiting the sacred shrine of the Black Madonna of Rocamadour. Poulenc's journey profoundly changed his life and work as a composer. Like the Stabat Mater, the Litanies à la Vierge Noir is also inspired by the Black Virgin of Rocamadour. Recorded here in an unrivalled performance by the combined choirs of St. John's, Clare and Gonville and Caius Colleges, Cambridge, with the BBC Philharmonic with soprano Judith Howarth.
| 6432 DVD $29.98 |
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