Eastertide Evensong

Name: Eastertide Evensong
SKU: SIGCD707
Availability: InStock

£8.00 – £12.00

Following from Ash Wednesday, this album is the second live Evensong album from the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge and marks the next great season of the Church’s Year, Eastertide. This cele- bration of Jesus’s resurrection also initially spans forty days, taking us up to Ascension Day, and culmi- nates on the fiftieth day with the Feast of Pentecost. Where the previous album reflected the tradition of using no organ from Ash Wednesday until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil, the instrument is fully utilised here by the Chapel’s organ scholars Glen Dempsey and James Anderson Besant.

The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge is one of the finest collegiate choirs in the world, known and loved by millions from its broadcasts, concert tours and recordings. Founded in the 1670s, the Choir is known for its distinctive rich, warm sound, its expressive interpretations and its breadth of repertoire. Alongside these musical characteristics, the Choir is particularly proud of its happy, relaxed and mutually supportive atmosphere.

“This CD has all the ingredients of a beautiful Choral Evensong: pace, exquisite singing, and fantastic organ accompaniments. The beauty and the magic of the service are captured impeccably… it is such an all-round excellent production” – Organist’s Review

“The choir under Andrew Nethsingha remain one of the very best and listeners who enjoy traditional Anglican choral music will get much pleasure from this release”. – Cross Rhythms

“[Howells’ “Gloucester Service”] Nethsingha judges tempi to perfection. Balance and blend too are faultless, yet he allows voice parts to bloom…Best of all is the surge of energy in the two Glorias…[Charles-Marie Widor’s Finale] It’s a marvellously uplifting end to these Easter celebrations. For all devotees of choral evensong, this is an indispensable disc.” – Opera Today

SKU: SIGCD707

Choir of St. John’s College Cambridge

Andrew Nethsingha Director

Release date: 15/04/2022

Catalogue number: SIGCD707

Barcode: 635212070727

★★★★ Performance, ★★★★ Recording “Tavener’s five-part Dum transisset Sabbatum boasts immaculate balancing of the voice strands, the vernal treble line a particular pleasure” – BBC Music Magazine

“The choir sings both canticles very well indeed; they are admirably responsive to both words and music. Howells’ sensuous harmonies and long vocal lines are expertly rendered…This is a fine celebration of Evensong for Eastertide. The choir’s singing is up to its usual exemplary standard…The production standards are very high. The recorded sound is excellent” – Musicweb International

“Over the past few years, [the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge] have offered consistently fine, thoughtful and inspiring music-making. Their latest disc, ‘Eastertide Evensong’ (SIGCD707), is no exception…This is a disc for those who value the contemplative riches of evensong as much as its capacity for joy” – Europadisc

“Try the Goss, with it’s expressive, swelling harmonies and listen to how beautifully the Signum engineers have captured the St John’s organ…The warmth of Howells’ “Magnificat” is perfectly caught in this recording…the recording really is phenomenal” – Classical Explorer

“The voices blend in a way which combines vibrancy with a well-blended ensemble. The accompanying CD booklet is a model of production with some glorious images of stained-glass windows” – East Anglican Daily Times

[1] My beloved spake

[2] The Preces

[3] Psalm 12

[4] Psalm 13

[5] Psalm 14

[6] The First Lesson

[7] Magnificat Gloucester Service

[8] The Second Lesson

[9] Nunc Dimittis Gloucester Service

[10] The Apostles’ Creed

[11] The Responses

[12] Dum transisset Sabbatum (I)

[13] The Prayers

[14] Finale (Symphonie VI)