choir – Alto CD

William Byrd: Anthems, Motets, Services

amuletts — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 01:48:48 +0000

“William Byrd was undoubtedly the greatest English composer of his time, fully equal to his continental contemporaries Palestrina, Lassus and Victoria … what is also remarkable

Psallite Domino (from Gradualia 1607) 1:15

Ne irascaris (from Cantiones sacrae 1589) 8:20

Laetentur caeli (from Cantiones sacrae 1589) 3:45

Senex puerum portabat (from Gradualia 1605) 1:40

Sing joyfully 2:43

Non vos relinquam (from Gradualia 1607) 1:51

Vigilate (from Cantiones sacrae 1589) 4:37

Justorum animae (from Gradualia 1605) 2:49

Haec dies (from Cantiones sacrae 1591) 2:31

Teach me, O Lord 3:40

Rorate coeli desuper (from Gradualia 1605) 4:21

Ave verum corpus (from Gradualia 1605) 4:28

Second Service: Magnificat 4:06

Second Service: Nunc dimittis 2:16

Exsurge, Domine (from Cantiones sacrae 1591) 4:12

Sacerdotes Domini (from Gradualia 1607) 1:25

Short Service: Magnificat 3:22

Short Service: Nunc dimittis 2:05

Laudibus in sanctis (from Cantiones sacrae 1591) 5.41

Welsh Male Voice Choir Tradition: Treorchy

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:06 +0000

The most successful and best-known Welsh Male Voice Choir, now in a popular budget collection

[1] Myfanwy (Joseph Parry) 2:51
[2] All in the April Evening (Roberton) 3:06
[3] March of the Men of Harlech / Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech 2:38
[4] Sospan Fach (Little saucepan) (trad. Welsh) 3:17
[5] Linden Lea (sung in Welsh) (Ralph Vaughan Williams) 2:03
[6] Shepherd’s Lullaby (trad. German Folk Song) 2:22
[7] Cwm Rhondda (Guide me O Thou great Jehovah) (J.Hughes) 2:17
[8] Llef (Deus salutis) (O great Jesus, impart thy nature)(Jones) 2:38
[9] Hyfrydol (Christus Redemptor / Love divine …) (R.H.Pritchard) 3:12
[10] All Hail the Power (Crown Him …)
(tune: Miles Lane – Shrubsole) 2:20
[11] Were you There?* (Negro Spiritual arr. Roberton) 3:00
[12] By Cool Siloam’s Shady Rill (tune: Belmont – Gardiner) 2:35
[13] Close Thine Eyes (Ieuan Rees-Davies) 1:52
[14] Jacob’s Ladder (Negro Spiritual) 2:06
[15] Rockin’ (Negro Spiritual) solo: Sam Griffiths 2:51
[16] All Through the Night (Ar Hyd y Nos) (arr.Roberton) 2:35
[17] Kedron (Dare, arr. Roberton) 2:12
[18] Hob y Deri Dando (Away, my Herd..) (trad. Welsh) 1:30
[19] Y Delyn Aur / The Golden Harp (trad. Welsh) 4:55
[20] Nant y Mynydd / Mountain Stream (trad. Welsh) 2:32
[21] Psalm 23 / The Lord’s my Shepherd (Thomas Walmisley) 1:38
[22] Y Deryn Pur / The Pure Bird (trad. Welsh) 2:34
[23] Yr Arglwydd yw fy Mugail (Schubert – Psalm 23 in Welsh) 6:32
[24] When I Survey the Wondrous Cross )
(tune: Rockingham –Miller) 2:24
[25] The Holy City* (Adams, arr.Arnold) solo: Sam Griffiths 4:16
[26] The Lost Chord* (Sullivan arr. Arnold) solo: Sam Griffiths 4:08
[27] Calon Lân* (Hughes arr. John Davies) 2:11
[28] We’ll Keep a Welcome (Mai Jones)
from Porthcawl to Paul Robeson) 1:29

Very Best of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:43 +0000

“Disaster was prophesied for a Choir which sang Psalm tunes and Hebridean airs, but Hugh Roberton and his Choir proved (them) wrong … He made arrangements pieces of great beauty and warmth, shaped to fit their voices … With this Choir, which became his life’s work, he strove to preserve the folk music of Scotland, to make people realise that tunes they knew and loved were of great musical worth and that … there is a rich treasure house of melody which must not be allowed to wither and die. He strove, in his own words, ‘to do a fine thing finely’, and he succeeded nobly.’ (Christian Science Monitor)

[26] All Through The Night (Trad. arr. Roberton) 3:01

Russian Favourites!

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:42 +0000

“Cascading Russian harmonies in this highly enjoyable selection of familiar tunes by the two best-known international ensembles” (MusicalMerit)

1. Song of the Plains/Meadowland) (Knipper)(solo:B.Balatine) 2:21
2. Stenka Razin (solo J.Assur) 3:51
3. Kajushka with Troika (Live Paris) 1:56
4. Evening Bells 2:37
5. Green Grass / Kalinka (solos G.Tymchenko; J.Seiffert; P.Myhalik) 3:23
6. Dark Eyes 3:54
7. Kamarinskaya* 2:15
8. Monotonously Rings the Little Bell 3:46
9. Dubinushka* 3:40
10. Lezginka 3:35
11. Cavalry Song (solo J.Beresoff) 2:32
12. Credo (Gretchaninov)(solos:G.Tymchenko; P.Myhalik) 4:29
13. The Cuckoo 2:27
14. Worship the Power of Love (Bortniansky) 3:13
15. Russian Polka 1:55
16. God Save Thy People 2:55
17. Soldiers’ Marching Song (solos: I.Corvin-Egle; J.Resnikoff) 2:19
18. Legend of the 12 Thieves (solo J.Assur) 5:48
19. Along the Street (Warlamoff) (solo: I.Corvin-Egle) 2:37
20. Don Cossack Anthem 1:33
21. The Warriors’ Prayer (solos: N.Naneff; P.Myhalik 4:34
22. A Birch Tree Stood in a Meadow* 3:22
23. You Are Always Beautiful* (Mokrousov) 3:23
24. Anthem of the Soviet Union* 3:40

Our Christmas Sequence

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“Few ‘standard carols’ but a disc to widen your choice of beautiful Christmas music including the magical ‘Christmas Sequence’, ‘Fantasy on Carols’ ‘Sussex Mummers’ Carol’, ‘Sleepers Awake’ ‘Sleighride’ ‘A Maid peerless’ ‘New Year Carol’ ‘Bethlehem Down’ ‘Christmas Day’ etc (18 tracks)

[1] Fantasy on Christmas Carols (The Holly and Ivy) 9:14
(Arnold arr. Christopher Palmer)
[2] Sleepers, Wake (‘Zion Hears the Watchmens’ Voices’) (J.S.Bach) 4:30
[3] The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol 2:25
(Trad arr. Percy Grainger / Dana Pema)
[4] A Legend (from 16 Songs for Children, Op.54, No.5) 3:01
(Tchaikovsky) Solo: Thomas Colwell, treble
[5] A Spotless Rose (Howells) Solo: Martin Oxenham, baritone 3:40
[6] Sleighride (Delius ed. Beecham) 5:44
[7] The Noble Stem of Jesse (Praetorius) 1:56
[8] Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen 2:42
(A Beauteous Rose hath Blossomed) (Brahms arr. Palmer)
[9] A Christmas Sequence (M. Rosza arr. Christopher Palmer) 9:37
-Mary and Joseph (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
-Star of Bethlehem
-Adoration of the Magi (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
-Nativity (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
[10] Bethlehem Down (Warlock) 5:06
[11] A Maid Peerless (Howells) Solo: Thomas Colwell, treble 5:31
[12] A New Year Carol (‘Friday Afternoons’) (Britten) 2:23
Trebles: David Nickless, Jonathan Seyghal, Connor Burrowes
[13] In Bethlehem City (Vaughan Williams) 2:17
[14] I Sing of a Maiden (Read arr. Hadley/Christopher Palmer) 3:06
[15] Christmas Day (Holst) 6:59

Rachmaninov Vespers (All-Night Vigil) Op.37

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:19 +0000

“Polyansky and the USSR…are superb … It is marvellous music, strong in its sense of tradition yet yielding to different interpretative approaches. Greater drama, in fact, is contained in some of Polyansky’s powerfully controlled meditations. Polyansky is inward though positive and well-judged” (Gramophone)

1. Come, let us worship 2:21
2. Bless the Lord, O my soul 5:27
3. Blessed be the man 4:26
4. O serene light (Kiev chant) 3:58
5. Now let Thy Servant depart (Kiev chant) 4:09
6. Rejoice, O Virgin (Hail Mary) 3:15
7. Hexapsalmos (Glory to God in the highest) 3:22
8. Praise the name of The Lord (Znamenny chant) 2:41
9. Blessed art Thou, O Lord (Znamenny chant) 6:45
10. Hymn of the Resurrection 4:05
11. My soul doth magnify the Lord 10:39
12. Great Doxology (Gloria) (Znamenny chant) 7:38
13. This day of salvation (troparion, znamenny chant) 2:15
14. Christ is risen from the dead (troparion) 4:21
15. Hymn to the Mother of God (Greek chant) 1:56

Vision of Peace / The Monks of Ampleforth Abbey

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:19 +0000

“Ampleforth Abbey is a rare oasis of calm in our hectic world.” (Gramophone)
“a collection of items that illustrate different moments in the life of a monk, from his early morning awakening through to nightfall, from the day of hi s vows to the final lowering of his coffin” ”
“it is really telling us about something utterly serious: they sing their chant well and with understandin g, enhanced by the deep re verbe ration of their lofty chapel.” (Gramophone)

[1] The Great Bell (2:38)
[2] Tibi Dixit Cor Meum (1:42)
[3] Laetatus Sum (1:50)
[4] Suscipe (3:19)
[5] Veni Creator Spiritus (3:04)
[6] Where charity and love are found (2:07)
[7] Inclitos Christi (2:44)
[8] Benedictus Deus (1:39)
[9] Ave Maris Stella (2:55)
[10] The Reading from the Rule of St Benedict and the Confession (3.28)
[11] The Psalms of Compline (5:30)
[12] The Hymn at Nightfall (1:14)
[13] The Verse (0:17)
[14] Nunc Dimittis (1:33)
[15] Litany, Prayer and Blessing (2:14)
[16] Hymn to the Virgin Mary (2:46)
[17] Scriptural Meditation (5:10)
[18] Quinque Prudentes Virgines (1:16)
[19] De Lamentatione Jeremiae Prophetae (3:36)
[20] Christus Factus Est (2:23)
[21] Te Deum (4:03)
[22] Miserere Mei (5:28)
[23] Regem Cui (6:14)
[24] Ego Sum (0.41)
[25] In Paradisum /Chorus Angelorum (l:11)
[26] Suscipe (0:40)
[27] Urbs Jerusalem Beata (2:34)

Gyorgy Sviridov: The Snowstorm Pushkin’s Garland; (Three) Choruses

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

(Snowstorm) “Sviridov created music for the film that was epic, romantic, tinged with nostalgia and above all, tuneful, which illustrated superbly his love for Russia, its history and its cultural heritage. Snowstorm was massively successful worldwide and each time it is heard on radio, interest in the composer rises” (James Murray)
“Pushkin’s Garland is one of the richest Russian choral works of the 20th century as well as a first-rate tribute to Russia’s greatest poet. Pushkin’s full emotional range is here … Sviridov’s late-flowering choral garlands and wreaths should enter the repertoire of our own chamber choirs sooner rather than later.” (Gramophone)

The Snowstorm
1. Troika – 3:10 2. Waltz – 3:56 3. Spring and Autumn – 2:07
4. Romance – 5:35 5. Pastorale – 2:14 6. Military March – 2:26
7. Wedding Ceremony – 3:03 8. Echo of Waltz – 1:53
9. Winter Road – 2:53
Pushkin’s Garland – Concerto for Chorus
Novosibirsk Chamber Choir
Moscow Chamber Choir, artistic director & conductor Vladimir Minin
10. I. Winter Morning – 3:02 11. II. My Sweetheart – 5:55
12. III. Mary – 2:34 13. IV. Echo – 2:54
14. V. Grecian Feast – 3:47 15. VI. Musk & Camphor – 1:52
16. VII. Reveille – 4:48 17. VIII. Natasha – 1:53
18. IX. Raise thee, timid one – 5:19 19. X. Magpie Chatter – 2:54
Five Choruses to Lyrics by Russian Poets (excerpts)
The Leningrad M.Glinka Choir, conductor V. Chernushenko
20. Of My Lost Youth (N. Gogol) 4:06 (Soloist: V. Timonin, tenor)
21. On a Blue Night (S. Esenin) 4:15
22. The Herd of Horses (S. Esenin) 5:12

RACHMANINOV “THE BELLS” (Op. 35) CANTATA: “SPRING” (Op. 20) & SONG: “VOCALISE” (Opus 34, No.14)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:57 +0000

“always something special about a Russian performance. The slavonic fervour and natural intensity of the singing, both solo and choral, give a gripping added immediacy here to The Bells … an added edge is the inclusion of the stirring cantata called Spring: an immediately attractive piece quite superbly sung by its baritone soloist, Sergei Yakovenko – indeed, the whole performance is unforgettable, both dramatically and vocally” (Gramophone) “1st choice ‘Bells’ in survey” Oct 2009 all recordings (Gramophone) “a compellingly attractive purchase” (MusicWeb)

“The Bells” Poem for Orchestra, Chorus, Soloists
Yurlov Russian Choir /Yuri Ukhov (1-4)/Stanislav Gusev (5)

[1] Allegro ma non tanto 6.48
[2] Lento 13.19
[3] Presto 8.51
[4] Lento lugubre 12.41

“Spring” Cantata for baritone, chorus, Orchestra

[5] “Spring” (text: V.Nekrasov) 17.54

“Vocalise” Song, orchestrated by V. Klin

[6] “Vocalise” 8.52

Haydn: Stabat Mater

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:13 +0000

“Stabat Mater was the first of Haydn’s vocal works to achieve an international reputation” (Prof. H.C.Robbins-Landon) “the Scandalously neglected Stabat Mater … this version finds a distinctive place … Darlington takes note of period practice and finds extra detail. The other striking quality is the warmly atmospheric cathedral atmosphere, which yet allows ample detail … these are fresh clear voices, like Carwood, with keen experience of the choral repertory.” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

[1] Stabat Mater dolorosa (tenor & chorus) 7:12
[2] O quam tristis et afflicta (mezzo-soprano) 6:12
[3] Quis est homo qui non fleret (chorus) 1:58
[4] Quis non posset contristari (soprano) 5:26
[5] Pro peccatis suae gentis (bass) 2:36
[6] Vidit suum dulcem natum (tenor) 4:37
[7] Eia mater, fons amoris (chorus) 3:05
[8] Sancta Mater, istud agas (soprano & tenor) 6:22
[9] Fac me vere tecum flere (mezzo-soprano) 7:00
[10] Virgo virginum praeclara (quartet & chorus) 6:03
[11] Flammis orci ne succendar (bass) 1:53
[12] Fac me cruce custodiri (tenor) 2:33
[13] Quando corpus morietur (soprano, mezzo, chorus) 2:07
[14] Paradisi gloria ut animae donetur (soprano, chorus) 3:11