Ivor Atkins Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow Sir Joseph Barnby - O God My Heart Is Ready Psalms Anglican chant and Hymns from St Thomas Choir New York (20 tracks) +Album Reviews

Excellent choir, excellent music

Gracejoy | New York, NY United States | 12/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like traditional Anglican church music and the sound of men and boys' voices, then this CD is well worth your money. The music is lovely, and the choir has a particularly clear and "gentle" sound that is very pleasant to listen to. The men of the choir all have beautiful voices and the boys sing with a very pure, even, and blended tone--not shrill or overly loud. On a good day they could rival the best of the English choirboys. Overall the music is excellent and the quality of the singing is very high. The St. Thomas Choir is probably the best choir of men and boys in North America right now, and here's why."

One of the best compilations of hymns

WHQZ | 02/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I heard them before I became Catholic, I think I'd be at the local Anglican parish. This is arguably the best choir in the US."

My Heart, Too, Is Ready

R. E. Belfrey | Atlanta, GA United States | 01/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has exceeded my expectations. Whilst I was first introduced to the genre of Anglican chant by the most esteemed Choir of Kings College, Cambridge, the young men on this album represent the United States very ably indeed. The sound quality is so that I can pick out the inspired words of the psalter without having to read along. The organ is wonderful, and particularly adroitly showcased in "Joy To the World." This is a wonderful choice, having both selections from the Psalms, and beautifuly aranged hymns, some of which, sadly, I have never heard. The music will truly have your "heart and flesh crying out for the living God."

For more wonderful Anglican Chant, try The Psalms of David, from Kings; and The Psalms of David with the Choir of St. Pauls, London."

Lovely!

modern music fan | Auckland, New Zealand | 10/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's sunny outside right now, life is good, and this CD's playing. Yay! You probably want a review not my life story, so let me say that this is a wonderful collection of Anglican chants of the Psalms, with some hymns thrown in. The Psalms selected are all joyful and happy (with the single exception of the rather less cheery 21st: "My God, my God, look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me?").

They're all sung with sensitivity for the words, see for example the high note and emphasis in "the King of GLORY shall come in" (Psalm 23), the crescendo in "with righteousness to judge the world" (95), the quiet awe in Psalm 8 ("when I consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers"), the drawn out notes in "my soul hath a desire and longing" (83), the skipping staccato in "the mountains skipped like rams", the full organ at "tremble thou earth at the presence of the LORD", the attack in "cast down", and many many others. Very nice.

I found it a little bit jarring to have the American short [æ] instead of the English [a:] in places, but they're Americans so I'll let them off. :)

You can hear some of these same settings in Anglican chant on youtube to see if you like the style, e.g. [...]

My first step in the imitation of St. Edmund the Martyr: memorising the whole 150!"

Finest sacred music cd I own

Howlglen | USA | 04/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've purchased many sacred/religous music cds, everything from Gregorian Chant to Southern Gospel, and this work is my very favorite. I actually purchased it from Amazon after reading a positive review of it and it did not disappoint. The reverent lilt to their voices, the awkwardly beautiful Anglican chant, the warming swells, this is not to be missed. It is rare insofar as it combines gravity and levity like nothing else I've ever heard. It's loaded with Psalms and so, for a reader of the Psalms, it's especially moving. It's like a little heaven on earth and everytime I play it I feel as if somehow I've "come home." By the by, if you're considering which St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys cd to buy, make it this one! I've also purchased Evensong and Sacred Banquet and, though they're good, this one is best."

Search - Ivor Atkins, Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow, Sir Joseph Barnby :: O God, My Heart Is Ready - Psalms (Anglican chant) and Hymns from St. Thomas Choir New York

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