Reviewed by Liz Knowles

This CD should be in the running for classic typographical errors in sleevenotes. Francis Grier apparently "studied the piano width..." I kid you not! More seriously, this disc has nine tracks of the kind of choral fare you might expect to hear in cathedrals and parish churches. It spans 300 years or so, and I wonder just whose favourites they are and why no Rutter or Tavener (for example) to bring it a little more up to date (the most recent piece dates from 1914). The boy treble for Mendelssohn's "Hear My Prayer"/"O For The Wings Of A Dove" (tracks one and two) was in tune, but felt a little insecure at times. The choir attacked Wood's "Hail Gladdening Light"  and "Stanford In A" with great gusto, clearly relishing them. The Mozart "Ave Verum" was almost too slow. Bach's "Jesu Joy" was well performed, but I think the highlight was Stanford's setting of words from Psalm 119 "Beati Quorum Via". The sleevenotes also mutter on about "inferior music" - so I ask again, whose favourites? Sadly, not mine. A nice souvenir of a visit to Christ Church, Oxford though.

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