Chilcott: Requiem & other choral works - Wells Cathedral Choir, Matthew Owens

Requiem[41'44]
with The Nash Ensemble
1
Introit & Kyrie Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine[9'27]
with Andrew Staples (tenor), Laurie Ashworth (soprano), Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
2
Offertorio Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae[7'48]
with Andrew Staples (tenor), Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
3
Pie Jesu[6'02]
with Laurie Ashworth (soprano), Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
4
Sanctus & Benedictus[2'13]
with Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
5
Agnus Dei[5'00]
with Andrew Staples (tenor), Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
6
Thou knowest, Lord[5'03]
with Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
7
Lux aeterna[6'11]
with Laurie Ashworth (soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Jonathan Vaughn (organ)

SALISBURY MOTETS
8
I sing of a mayden[4'06]
with Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
9
When to the temple Mary went[4'39]
10
Lovely tear of lovely eye[6'09]
with Jonathan Vaughn (organ), Alfie Johnson (tubular bell)
11
Hail, star of the sea most radiant[3'00]
Downing Service[7'22]
with Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
12
Magnificat My soul doth magnify the Lord[2'49]
13
Nunc dimittis Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace[4'33]
14
Pilgrim Jesus Iesus! Christus! Iesus! Natus![2'12]
15
The Nine Gifts I bring you my body, darling dear[4'25]
with Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
16
Jesus, springing I am the heart that houses the cone[5'50]
with Jonathan Vaughn (organ)

Composer and conductor Bob Chilcott (born 1955) has been steeped in the British choral tradition since he was a boy chorister. A former member of The King’s Singers, he is now one of the UK’s most prolific and creative choral composers, writing appealingly direct and accessible music with memorable melodies reminiscent of John Rutter at his best. Of his most recent large-scale work, his Requiem (2010), Chilcott says he was initially ‘terrified by the idea’ of writing a work with such a weight of history behind it, but he has certainly risen to the challenge: his Requiem is characterized by a gentle, forgiving atmosphere clearly modelled on Fauré’s Requiem, with a crystalline, reflective Pie Jesu for solo soprano at the emotional heart of the work. This and the other works performed here, all first recordings, are beautifully performed by Wells Cathedral Choir and Matthew Owens, The Nash Ensemble and two superb young soloists.