Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This is by no means the first 'A Year At' release from Regent Records but it is such a simple yet effective idea that I hope they continue until every cathedral choir in the country has been included. The programme follows the liturgical year from Advent in December through to St Cecilia's Day on 22nd November with a suitable song for each occasion and, where possible, a local connexion to make each release have its own special flavour. Portsmouth Cathedral started its long history as a parish church named in honour of Thomas Becket after his martyrdom in 1170 and was rededicated as a cathedral as recently as 1991. Throughout its history Portsmouth church / cathedral has been a witness to some memorable events, from Richard the Lionheart heading out on crusade - never to return - to the taskforce leaving to liberate the Falkland Islands. The interesting CD liner notes will tell you more but it is the music that is under review, and well worth hearing it is. Portsmouth Cathedral Choir comprises Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars with both Boy and Girl Choristers singing the upper lines all directed by David Price, Organist and Master of the Choristers although on this recording the organist is Sachin Gunga who gets a solo in Philip Moore's "Fanfare de Maris" for Sea Sunday. In addition to the organ solo there are 20 choral pieces, all well sung, all worth hearing. We go back as far as Handel with "How Beautiful Are The Feet" from 'Messiah' here sung for the Patronal Festival with a confident solo from Daniel Sands. Contemporary pieces that stood out for this listener are Howard Goodall's new setting of Charles Wesley's popular "Love Divine", in this collection the hymn for Easter Day. Also memorable is Sir John Rutter's setting of Psalm 27, "The Lord Is My Light And My Salvation" for All Saints' Day; Adrian Green, the tenor soloist, deserves a mention, as does Alex Wallace, one of the cathedral Lay Clerks whose day job is a Royal Marine musician and who here plays a lovely clarinet part. Another standout is Mark Blatchly's setting of Laurence Binyon's moving poem "For The Fallen" which I am sure you have heard read at Remembrance services with its memorable "They shall not grow old". Here it has a haunting trumpet solo from Ben Robinson that uses the tune from the Last Post. While I have commented on just a cross section from the thoughtfully compiled selection of pieces from throughout the church year there are no weak links and any listener with an interest in cathedral music will find much to appreciate and any who have a link with Portsmouth or the Royal Navy will treasure this release.

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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