Choir Of Birmingham Cathedral, Marcus Huxley, Christopher Allsop - My Dancing Day
STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 12688- LABEL: Regent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
To say that it features the Choir Of Birmingham Cathedral is not the whole truth as here we have the three sections: boys, girls and men in all possible permutations. The two constants are the assured direction from Marcus Huxley and the uniformly good quality of the singing. Christopher Allsop accompanies most of the songs on the organ and has his own solo spot with Louis Vierne's "Hymne au Soleil". The programme is an imaginative journey through the liturgical year, starting at Christmas with Carl Rütti's gospel-flavoured "My Dancing Day" and going full circle to conclude with John Gardner's splendid new arrangement for "The Holly And The Ivy". One must comment upon the range of featured composers, from William Byrd ("Christ Is Risen") and Josquin des Prés ("Mirabiles Elations Maris") through to several contemporary writers with contributions from some of the best between, including Bach's "Suscepit Israel", Samuel Wesley's "With My Whole Heart" and Edward Bairstow's "Let All Mortal Flesh". Almost certainly there will be something new for most listeners and equally certainly there will be much to enjoy.
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