Music for Leisure.
As summer has arrived, choir performances have stopped in general. The chamber choir series in the St. Peter’s Church in Utrecht is also with recess. We have, however, a beautiful recording from this series. It was made on Friday 23 June 2017 with Vocal Ensemble MUSA and conducted by Peter Dijkstra.
English music is central in the programme with the title ‘British beauty on the continent’. This connects well to the series ‘Brexit’ concerts, which the St. Peter’s Church programmed last season.
On the imaginary trip which Musa makes through the United Kingdom, we travel to picturesque towns and beautiful old churches. We’ll arrive first in London where we’ll visit the City of Westminster and listen to music of Purcell. Then we’ll march westward towards the county of Gloucestershire. In this hamlet, Down Ampney, Ralph Vaughan Williams was born. We’ll cross the river the Severn to the village of Lydney. There, Herbert Howells was born. Westminster Abbey and Cathedral play an important role in the music of today.
1. Henry Purcell (1659-1695) – Hear my prayer, Oh Lord
2. I was glad when they said unto me
3. Remember me not
4. Lord, how long wilt thou be angry
5. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) – Mass in G (1922)
6. Herbert Howells (1892-19-83) – Take him, Earth, for Cherishing (1964)
7. John Tavener (1944-2013) – Song for Athene
8. Henry Purcell / Sven-David Sandström (1942) – Hear my prayer, O Lord (1986)
Vocal Ensemble Musa conducted by Peter Dijkstra
Concertzender recording 23-6-2017 St. Peter’s Church Utrecht, technique and production Wijnand de Groot
