Reviewed by Dave Massey

As an historical document the five volumes in the 'English Anthem' series are fascinating as they chart the development of the anthem/hymn down the centuries. However, Vol 5 is a tour-de- force of mediocrity and given the choice to take it or leave it, I'd prefer to leave it. Pieces like "Come Holy Ghost" and "Thou Hast Made Me" (Jonathon Harvey, Lennox Berkley) just prove to me that where secular music has developed both on the classical and popular scenes, liturgical music has remained encapsulated in an upper-class theological time warp that its exponents call tradition. The heyday of the English anthem is covered in the first two volumes of this set when church and politics were closely intertwined and the anthem was a subtle form of propaganda. When people like Tallis could take a pop song like 'Fond Youth Is A Bubble" (!) and turn it into an anthem the average man could understand ("Purge Me, O Lord"). If you are interested in church history you may want all five volumes but those who are simply after the best music possible should stick to the first two and possibly the third volumes.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.