The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Robert Quinney, James O'Donnell - The Feast Of Ascension At Westminster Abbey flac album

Choir of Westminster Abbey, James O'Donnell. The Feast of the Ascension at Westminster Abbey.

The choir of Westminster Abbey under James O'Donnell sing with the happy care which his choristers at the Cathedral used to bring to their work with him’ (Gramophone). This close-your-eyes and you're there service is almost matter-of-fact in its excellenc. t's good to see that English cathedral music is still intact: its future is represented by Francis Pott's Toccata, commandingly played by Robert Quinney, which rounds off a truly feel-good recording for cathedral music fans’ (Choir & Organ)

By Sir Charles Villiers Stanford - Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell & Robert Quinney. 5. Service in C Major, Op. 115: II. Benedictus. By Sir Charles Villiers Stanford - Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell & Robert Quinney.

Tags: Choir of Westminster Abbey, Herbert Howells, Hyperion Records, James O'Donnell, Jean Langlais, Michael Tippett, Michaelmas, Robert Quinney, St Michael. This entry was posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:10 am and is filed under Hyperion 10, Music, Religion.

Another offering to lift the soul heavenwards from James O'Donnell and his choir, as they continue their exploration of liturgical repertoire across the centuries. Falling forty days after Easter Sunday, the Feast of the Ascension marks the last time Jesus appeared to his disciples as they watched him ascend to heaven. It doesn't come at the expense of quality, though; this is Westminster Abbey Choir at their crystalline best, with spot-on pitching, enviable articulation and sympathetic phrasing. Matins continues with preces and responses by Bernard Rose, Sir Joseph Barnby's setting of Psalm 24, Heinrich Schutz's upbeat setting of Psalm 100 and Britten’s Festival Te Deum in E, before finishing with Vaughan Williams's ever-popular O clap your hands. It is a stirring, beautifully judged programme of music, performed to the highest standard.

James O’Donnell is the Abbey’s Director of Music and principal conductor of the Abbey Choir. He is the head of the Abbey music department and is responsible for all musical aspects of the Abbey’s work. He was appointed Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, where he became Master of Music in 1988. Under his direction the Choir of Westminster Cathedral won the Gramophone ‘Record of the Year’ award (for its Hyperion disc of masses by Frank Martin and Pizzetti in 1998), and a Royal Philharmonic Society award (1999), both unprecedented for a cathedral choir. As soloist and director James has worked with many of Britain’s leading ensembles. He is Music Director of St James’ Baroque and appears regularly with the BBC Singers.

Westminster Abbey has been the focus of British royal occasions for centuries, and the early seventeenth century saw the most dazzling musicians of the age writing music for the Court in all its various incarnations. This fascinating disc presents a selection of works from the reign of King James I. The most celebrated name on this disc is that of Orlando Gibbons, and some of his most masterly works are presented on this CD. The most eloquent and emotionally intense music recorded here was most likely never intended for performance in the Abbey, but has a particularly Royal relevance.