PURCELL: Anthems - Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (2 CDs)

Purcell wrote so much in so many different spheres of musical activity that it is easy to forget that one of his main tasks was to be a royal composer, to provide music for the occasions of State in Westminster Abbey, just as the Gabrielis had done for the Doge at St Mark’s or Lully for the French monarchs at Versailles. One of the most notable – and highly praised – accounts of Purcell’s choral music came from the Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge, conducted by George Guest. They made three records for Argo – in 1964, 1972 and 1975 – covering Purcell’s Music for the Chapel Royal, a selection of Verse Anthems, the Te Deum and Jubilate and other works. The three are collected on a 2CD set. Texts are included in the booklet.

‘The performances are excellent. James Bowman is in splendid voice and he is well matched by Charles Brett (in this music, the others are really a supporting cast to the countertenors). The orchestra plays with its usual sensitivity of tone and nuance. As for Mr. Guest, he understands the ‘Funeral Sentences’ in no mean manner, for it is easy to overdo the pain or to adopt the stiff upper lip, yet he manages to combine the two in goodly proportion.’ Gramophone

‘The impact of Inia Te Wiata’s entry in ‘They that go down to the sea in ships’ is almost sensational … Outstanding among the soloists is the counter-tenor, Charles Brett. The orchestral playing is sprightly, the choral singing polished’ Gramophone

HENRY PURCELL
CD 1
They that go down to the sea in ships, Z.57
Charles Brett, countertenor
Inia Te Wiata, bass

Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei, Z.135
Robert Tear, tenor
Christopher Keyte, baritone

My beloved spake, Z.28
Charles Brett, countertenor
Robert Tear, tenor
Christopher Bevan & Christopher Keyte, baritones

O sing unto the Lord a new song, Z.44
Roger Parker, treble
Charles Brett, countertenor
Wilfred Brown, tenor
Christopher Keyte, baritone

Lord, how long wilt Thou be angry?, Z.25
Who hath believed our report?, Z.64
Charles Brett, countertenor
Wilfred Brown, tenor
Christopher Keyte, baritone

Academy of St Martin In The Fields
Neville Marriner, leader
Brian Runnett, organ
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
George Guest

Behold, I bring you glad tidings, Z.2
In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, Z.16
Paul Esswood, countertenor
Ian Partridge, tenor
Stafford Dean, bass

Strings
John Scott, organ
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
George Guest

CD 2
Te Deum Laudamus, Z.232
Jubilate Deo in D major
James Bowman & Charles Brett, countertenors
Ian Partridge, tenor
Forbes Robinson, bass
Malcolm Creese, Simon Keenlyside, Robert King, Robert Smith & Paul Williams, trebles

Funeral Sentences
Charles Brett, countertenor
Ian Partridge, tenor
Forbes Robinson, bass
Malcolm Creese, Simon Keenlyside, Robert King, Robert Smith & Paul Williams, trebles

Remember not, Lord, our offences, Z.50
March & Canzona, Z.860
Thou knowest, Lord, Z58C
English Camber Orchestra
Stephen Cleobury, organ continuo
Jane Ryan, viol
Consort of Sackbuts from Symphoniae Sacrae
Choir of John’s College, Cambridge
George Guest

I was glad, Z.19
Paul Esswood, countertenor
Ian Partridge, tenor
Stafford Dean, bass

O Lord God of hosts, Z.37
O give thanks, Z.33
Paul Esswood, countertenor
Ian Partridge, tenor
Stafford Dean, bass
Lynton Atkinson, treble

Strings
John Scott, organ
Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge
George Guest