Search - Hubert Parry, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Charles Wood :: The English Anthem, Vol. 5

English church music at its glorious best

Paul A Linford | London United Kingdom | 11/15/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many of the anthems on this collection are old favourites of mine from my days as a choirboy in Hitchin, Herts, so when I saw the track-listing it was a fairly obvious purchase! The opener, Parry's "I was Glad," is probably one of the best-known of all English church anthems - and this recording certainly captures the drama of the piece - but for me the highlight is the second track, Wesley's "I Will Keep Him in Perfect Peace." Listen out for the last few bars of this - they contain some of the most glorious harmonies in the entire English church music canon.
Another old favourite was William Harris's "O What Their Joy," and in particular the section "There dawns no sabbath...no sabbath is o'er" and its dramatic, rather eerie chord sequences.
Of the pieces which were new to my ears, Lennox Berkeley's "The Lord is My Shepherd," with its lilting melodies is a particular delight."

Splendid Stuff!

Nancy Wiley | 05/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening fanfares of Parry's "I was Glad" to the glorious conclusion of Elgar's "Great is the Lord", this volume of the superb English Anthem series from Hyperion is richly worthy and representative of its prestigious choir, choirmaster, cathedral, and record label.



There really isn't a track on here that is less than hair-raising, although Tavener's "Annunciation" stretches the choir's vocal range slightly more than is pleasant to hear. (But isn't that hair-raising as well?!)



My favourite track is, beyond doubt, Vaughan Williams's "Lord, Thou has been our refuge". This deeply moving work is given a dazzingly splendid performance here - I can't imagine one better - and the blazing last page is almost too much solemn beauty and overwhelming emotion to be born.



A worthy successor to the former volumes, and famed predecessor to the latter volumes. BUY IT!"