Sullivan’s "other" music includes a substantial
amount of work for the church – anthems, hymns and canticles – all represented
on this very clearly recorded, satisfyingly sung and well presented
disc.
The canticles are the "little" (Sullivan’s
own word), yet expansive Te Deum and Jubilate. The six anthems
mostly date from the 1860s, though Who is Like Unto Thee (1883)
is contemporary with Princess Ida. Mostly, apart from the lengthy
(nearly 15 minutes) Sing, O Heavens, these are in a basically
three section form with a central section being for solo voices. Again
the writing is expansive and marvellously tuneful in Sullivan’s most
ingratiating manner.
The carol I sing the Birth, engagingly simple,
could be revived in Christmas concerts today with profit. There is one
hymn Lead Kindly Light, while The Strain Upraise is a
heady amalgam of anthem, chant and hymn. The CD is completed by excerpts
from the oratorios The Light of the World, including one adapted
as a brief introit for King Edward VII’s Coronation, plus the extract
"Brother Thou Art Gone Before Us", well known in its day from
other oratorio The Martyr of Antioch. Of the 15 tracks here,
four are new to CD and eight others new to recording altogether.
Sullivan was a master of melody and he did not stop
writing tunes when he composed for the church. Strongly recommended.
Philip Scowcroft