I’ve been invited to name my ten favourite anthems. Like most people I can’t come up with a definitive list, though I think half of the following would be on any list of mine. I have excluded liturgical settings, even if they get used as anthems.
Gibbons, O clap your hands. I believe this was written when he got an Oxford DMus. and he certainly deserved it on this showing.
Gesualdo, O vos omnes. Much of my favourite music is radical, and this piece would remain so even if I were to hear it after a day of listening to Second Viennese School.
Purcell Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei. There would be more Purcell if I’d allowed myself more than one piece per composer.
Blow, Salvator mundi. About as near as I can get to a second piece by Purcell!
Wesley, The Wilderness. A great Cathedral classic.
Parry, Hear my words, ye people. And another one. Does anyone do the opening of this with a semi-chorus as Parry requested?
Vaughan Williams, Lord, thou hast been our refuge. An almost Janáček-like sensitivity to the rhythms of the text. And that heart-stopping moment when the trumpet comes in (especially if it’s a real trumpet).
Poulenc, Videntes stellam. Some composers lost what was best about their music when they wrote for the Church. Poulenc found a voice that was Catholic and yet utterly his own.
Walton, Drop, drop, slow tears. Still can’t believe how young he was when he wrote this.
Finzi, Lo, the full, final sacrifice. A cult piece when I was a student.
I’m willing to reveal the pieces that didn’t quite make the cut, over a drink. Actually, relatively little church music makes me feel like falling to my knees, although I am about to perform one piece that does – Berlioz’ Requiem.