Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

One is never too old to learn. Your reviewer had long thought the Chapel Royal to be a building attached to a palace but now knows that the title also refers to the musicians who travel with the monarch to provide the music wherever he or she worships. As a matter of fact, this CD uses the term in both its senses. The recording was made inside the building known as the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace and sung by the choir known as the Chapel Royal together with The Musicians Extra-ordinary, a title that dates back before the 15th century and which refers to those musicians who play for the Sovereign on an irregular basis. But enough of the history, what of the music? Handel's English church music spans his entire career in London and here we have a good selection: "Let God Arise", "I Will Magnify Thee", "As Pants The Hart", and "O Sing Unto The Lord" with an additional two movements from "As Pants The Hart" which show how Handel liked to adapt his work to suit different musicians and different occasions. The singing is excellent, the sleeve notes by Andrew Gant are fascinating and the price offers excellent value for money.