Philip Stopford, Truro Cathedral Choir, Christopher Gray - Do Not Be Afraid

Published Saturday 1st June 2013
Philip Stopford, Truro Cathedral Choir, Christopher Gray - Do Not Be Afraid
Philip Stopford, Truro Cathedral Choir, Christopher Gray - Do Not Be Afraid

STYLE: Choral
RATING 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 139540-
LABEL: Regent REGCD400
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Philip Stopford was born in 1977 and is rapidly emerging from among the younger generation of British composers as one of the most popular and prolific writers of new choral music. The easy comparison to make is with John Rutter, as both composers write music that is immediately appealing and within the capabilities of most choirs while having sufficient originality to stretch professional singers and keep the attention of the audience. This CD, the first entirely dedicated to Stopford's music from a cathedral choir, presents a selection of his recent work along with some first recordings of more challenging material written for and performed by Truro Cathedral Choir, including the "Truro Evening Canticles". The final six pieces are all Christmas songs. "Born In A Stable" takes a text by Kenneth C Steven that manages to sound traditional without falling into the slough of pastiche. "Once In Royal David's City" with a charming treble solo by Piran Venton is basically the old favourite in a Celtic arrangement and one that is well worth hearing. "Sans Day Carol" is a traditional Cornish carol and it is nice to hear it sung so well by a Cornish choir. "I Wonder As I Wander" is another old favourite, this time by Carl Rutti and again arranged in a more Celtic style. And then comes the jewel in the crown: "Lully, lulla, lullay" has already been short-listed for Classic FM's Hall Of Fame for 2013 and I am sure you will hear this plenty and often next Christmas and for many to follow. And we close, appropriately, with "A Christmas Blessing" from the Nine Lessons And Carols, the popular service that was first used at Truro Cathedral. Although I have emphasised the Christmas element this is not a Christmas album and several of the other 12 pieces are well worth hearing and all are sung impeccably well by Christopher Gray's Truro Cathedral Choir. However, if your choir is anything like mine, you will be looking for new versions of some of the old favourites come December and I am happy to recommend any or all of these.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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