Bach Byrd Britten
The Choir of Ormond College, directed by Douglas Lawrence, presents Bach, Byrd and Britten. Bach’s motet Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden and Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices stand beside Britten’s Five Flower Songs and A Ceremony of Carols.
Douglas Lawrence director
Mary Anderson harp
Lenore Stephens soprano
Anne Hunter soprano
Patricia Shaw alto
Elizabeth Anderson alto
The programme shows the choir’s range across Baroque, Renaissance and twentieth-century English repertoire. Bach’s four-voice motet on Psalm 117 is intense polyphony crowned by a canonic Alleluia. Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices, from the 1590s, is clear and devout English modality.
Britten’s Five Flower Songs set floral poems with vivid word-painting. A Ceremony of Carols, for treble voices and harp, draws on medieval and sixteenth-century texts, from procession and recession to the harp Interlude, with Mary Anderson as harpist.
Reviews
…precise articulation enhances the lively Bach polyphony; suave melodic contouring highlights the elegance of Byrd’s vocal lines and rhythmic precision and fine vocal blendings throw into sharp relief the spicy harmonies of Britten’s delightful songs and carols.
Artists
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German composer and organist of the late Baroque. His sacred and secular music for choir, orchestra, organ and solo instruments remains among the foundations of the Western concert and church repertory.
The Choir of Ormond College
The Choir of Ormond College has, since its founding in 1982 under Douglas Lawrence, become the first Australian choir to earn ongoing international recognition for its concert and recorded work.
William Byrd
William Byrd wrote English Renaissance polyphony that still defines the choral repertory: Latin motets of fierce concentration, three Masses of luminous restraint, Anglican services and anthems, plus keyboard and consort music of dancing invention.
Douglas Lawrence
Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne. He founded the Choir of Ormond College and directed it from 1982 to 2006.
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten (1913–1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. His operas are firmly established in the international repertoire, and more of them are played worldwide than those of any other composer born in the twentieth century.
Audio preview
Tracks
- Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV 230 Johann Sebastian Bach 6:49
- Kyrie 2:12
- Gloria 5:50
- Credo 8:07
- Sanctus 2:29
- Benedictus 1:28
- Agnus Dei 3:24
- To Daffodils 2:05
- The Succession of the Four Sweet Months 1:55
- Marsh Flowers 2:36
- The Evening Primrose 2:24
- Ballad of Green Broom 2:31
- Procession 1:20
- Wolcum Yole! 1:27
- There is no Rose 2:36
- That yonge child 1:41
- Balulalow 1:29
- As dew in Aprille 1:04
- This little Babe 1:37
- Interlude (harp solo) 3:38
- In freezing winter night 4:23
- Spring Carol 1:17
- Adam lay i-bounden 1:17
- Recession 1:22
Mass for Four Voices William Byrd
Five Flower Songs, Op. 47 Benjamin Britten
A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28, for treble voices and harp Benjamin Britten
Performers
- The Choir of Ormond College
- Douglas Lawrence · director
- Mary Anderson · tracks 13–24
- Lenore Stephens · tracks 13–24
- Anne Hunter · tracks 13–24
- Patricia Shaw · tracks 13–24
- Elizabeth Anderson · tracks 13–24
Contributors
Liner notes
David Wilson
Photography
Howard Birnstihl
Howard Birnstihl is a photographer whose cover, exterior and general photography appears across many Move Records releases from the late 1970s into the 2000s.
Where to listen
Bach Byrd Britten is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Bach Byrd Britten is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3104
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 65 minutes 1 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Venue
- Dining Hall Ormond College
Xavier College Chapel - Credit
- David Wilson
Howard Birnstihl - Release date
- 1989
- Musical work
copyright - © 1989 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1989 Move Records
- Categories
- Choral, Classical
- Genres
- Choral & Sacred, Christmas
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574310429
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