This is an excellent collection of hymns in
sometimes new arrangements.
We begin with Richard Tanner’s own tune with
a text by Jane Beeson “Loving Shepherd of thy sheep”, written
for the Baptism of his son James. This is an unusual but very
apt beginning as it also highlights Tanner’s undoubted talents
and his choral forces. The unfamiliar is followed by the well
known “Thy hand, O God, has guided”,
to the tune by Basil Harwood.
This assembly of
24 hymns and anthems is good in juxtaposing the popular and
the more obscure. For example “God be in my head” is reborn
in a new tune by Herman Brearly; it is followed by the “Angel
Voices” in familiar clothing. I was particularly taken by
the arrangements of “Amazing Grace” and “Steal Away” (used
by Tippett in “Child of our Time”), here reworked by John
Bertalot. “Hymn for Cecilia” is sung and played with great
aplomb! There is also terrific brass accompaniment in an
exuberant version of the lovely “Ye Watchers and ye holy
ones”.
Vaughan Williams’ “Let all the world in every
corner sing” and Herbert Howells’ “Jubilate” (Collegium Regale)
are familiar to visitors to Cathedrals and are what I call
anthems. At my school we had to sing the “Jubilate” by Stanford
at our Commemoration; fortunately no-one was around to hear
me attempt singing along to these tuneful choirs! However I
loved both of these very English pieces written by composers
who both had tough lives but gave us life-affirming music.
An earlier great choral composer Orlando Gibbons is represented
by a moving rendition of “Peace Perfect Peace”.
For collectors of hymn anthologies this is
a “must buy”. There is a feeling of spiritual uplift and freshness
to the whole enterprise. This is ideal for the car or to unwind
to. You might only want to play a few hymns at a time but every
track has something to offer. Congratulations to all concerned!
David R Dunsmore
AVAILABILITY
Lammas
Records