St Albans Cathedral Choir - Philip Moore: Cathedral Music - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Compared with large-scale oratorios such as St Paul, which includes the lyrical chorus How lovely are the messengers, Mendelssohn's smaller sacred choral works were influenced by Palestrina, ranging from short liturgical motets such as the Sechs Spreche to the canticle settings of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis. The famous sacred melody 'O for the wings of a dove' is to be found in Hear my prayer. The fine choristers of St Albans Cathedral can also be heard 'on sparkling form' (Gramophone) in John Rutter's Gloria (8.572563). Tom Winpenny is Assistant Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral, where he accompanies the daily choral services and directs the Abbey Girls Choir. Previously, as Sub-Organist at St Paul's Cathedral, London, he performed with the Cathedral Choir at the AGO National Convention, with the London Symphony Orchestra in Mahler's Symphony No. 8, and played for great state occasions.

Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford - English & Latin Church Music [COMPACT DISCS] date 06/04/1996

Although he remains best known for his symphonies, Anton Bruckner's output of sacred choral works is sizable and represents the essence of a composer whose Catholicism was both profound and almost entirely unwavering. These works include various motets and anthems of which some of the most popular are featured on this recording including Ave Maria, Locus iste and Os Justi. Thanks to the excellent acoustics of the 11th century St Albans Cathedral, this recording sounds wonderful, particularly in the immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos version (which is available to stream via Apple Music). The recording features boy choristers rather than the more commonly heard women's voices, fitting closer to Bruckner's intentions. St. Albans Cathedral Choir is regarded as one of the finest cathedral choirs in the country and this is the first time they have recorded these works. This recording is released ready for Bruckner's 200th birth anniversary in 2024.