The Crown of Life continues the Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford’s exploration of overlooked treasures in twentieth-century English choral music under Owen Rees. At its centre is the first recording of Kenneth Leighton’s Missa Christi (1988), the composer’s final large-scale sacred work, commissioned by Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis. Alongside it are world premiere recordings of Harold Darke’s Blessed is the man that endureth temptation and Imogen Holst’s Out of your sleep arise and wake. Works by Rebecca Clarke and Gustav Holst complete the programme, offering a richly varied portrait of composers linked by study with Stanford and united in sacred expression.
The Crown of Life
Choir of the Queen’s College, Oxford
Owen Rees, Director
Release date: 06/03/2026
Catalogue number: SIGCD979
Barcode: 635212097922
[1] A Hymn to the Trinity
[2] O brother man
Missa Christi, Festival Mass:
[3] III. Kyrie Eleison
[4] II. Gloria
[5] IV. Sanctus and Benedictus
[6] I. Agnus Dei
[7] Crucifixus pro nobis, Op. 38, No. 4: Drop, drop, slow tears
[8] Three Carols Op. 34, No. 1: This have I done for my true love
[9] Nunc dimittis
[10] Out of your sleep arise and wake
[11] Ave Maria
[12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation
[13] Ave Maria, Op. 9b
[14] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
[15] Be strong and of a good courage
[16] Lord, who hast made us for thine own