Although in September 2014, Merton College, Oxford, celebrates the
750th anniversary of its foundation, its choir in its present form
is much younger than might be expected. It dates only from the resolution
in 2006 to establish eighteen choral scholars and two organ scholars,
under the joint directorship of music of Benjamin Nicholas and Peter
Phillips, the latter better known as the founder and director of the
Tallis Scholars.
This specially conceived programme covers those 750 years of the choral
repertoire, not quite literally because the earliest composer here,
John Dunstaple or Dunstable, was born more than a century after Merton’s
establishment. Designed to demonstrate this relatively young establishment’s
prowess, the recording also provides a bird’s-eye view of some
important moments in musical history, and features two composers -
John Dunstaple and Lennox Berkeley - associated with the College,
as well as the four works specially commissioned for the choir which
are asterisked in the listing at the end of the review.
I can be quite brief in recommending this recording because we apparently
received two copies for review and my colleague, John Quinn, has already
got his thoughts online - review.
We do tend to cover much the same repertoire - my reviews in the bi-monthly
Download News which I formerly edited often duplicating JQ’s
on the main MusicWeb International pages. It’s rare that we
disagree to any significant degree. On this occasion we greatly enjoyed
both the way that the programme fits together - this kind of historical
survey doesn’t always come off, certainly not as well as it
does here - and the quality of the performance. Benjamin Nicholls
and Peter Phillips share the directing honours.
I especially enjoyed the three works specifically composed for Merton;
they have in common the kind of modern-yet-timeless quality that works
well for me, something which they share with Arvo Pärt. If you’re
not sure, try the programme from Naxos Music Library if you can; you’ll
also find the booklet there.
The acoustic of Merton Chapel was tailor-made for choral recording.
I recall some enjoyable choral concerts there when I was an undergrad
in the early 1960s. It was much more to my taste than the brief reign
of the Merton peacocks whose raucous cries interrupted my sleep as
far away as the other end of the High Street. Both the Tallis Scholars
on Gimell and next-door Christ Church Cathedral Choir on Avie have
made many fine recordings there. The latter apparently now prefer
to record in Merton Chapel rather than at Dorchester on Thames Abbey
as they once did for Nimbus. Nor is it the first time that Delphian
have recorded there: Die Vögel unter dem Himmel (DCD34043,
music by Scheidt and Schütz - review)
and Sanctum est verum lumen (DCD34045: Recording of the Month
- review),
both with the National Youth Choir, were made there. Couple that acoustic
with the recording quality in evidence on this CD - I see that it
was made in 24-bit format, so my only regret that it isn’t (yet?)
available as a 24-bit download - and the detailed and informative
notes which Delphian include in the booklet and you have another winner
to add to their earlier successes: In the Beginning, the first
Merton/Delphian production (DCD34072) - review
- and Recording of the Month review
- and Advent at Merton (DCD34122) - review
and Download
News 2012/23.
Brian Wilson
Previous review: John
Quinn
Track-listing
Ēriks EšENVALDS (b.1977) Magnificat, Nunc
dimittis (Merton College Service)* [3:54 + 2:55]
John DUNSTAPLE (c.1390-1435) Veni Sancte Spiritus/Veni Creator
[5:07]
John SHEPPARD (c,1515-1558) Libera nos, salva nos I
[2:42]
Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) The Woman with the Alabaster Box [5:19]
Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) There is an old belief [4:54]
William BYRD (1539/40-1623) Praise our Lord, all ye Gentiles
[2:45]
Orlando GIBBONS (1583-1625) This is the record of John [4:09]
Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989) Veni sponsa Christi [2:44]
Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Hear my prayer, O Lord [2:14]; Remember
not, Lord, our offences [2:47]
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Valiant-for-truth [5:14]
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Justorum animæ
[3:19]; Beati quorum via [3:34]
William MUNDY (c.1529-1591) Magnificat, Nunc dimittis
(Second Service ‘in F fa ut’) [5:27 + 2:39]
James LAVINO (b.1973) Beati quorum via (Merton Choirbook)*
[3:36]
Maurice GREENE (1696-1755) Lord, let me know mine end [6:09]
Ola GJEILO (b.1978) Sacred Origins (Merton Choirbook)* [4:26]
* premiere recordings
