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.<\/p>\n
Gibbons, O clap your hands<\/em>. I believe this was written when he got an Oxford DMus. and he certainly deserved it on this showing.<\/p>\n Gesualdo, O vos omnes<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n Purcell Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei<\/em>. There would be more Purcell if I’d allowed myself more than one piece per composer.<\/p>\n Blow, Salvator mundi<\/em>. About as near as I can get to a second piece by Purcell!<\/p>\n Wesley, The Wilderness<\/em>. A great Cathedral classic.<\/p>\n Parry, Hear my words, ye people<\/em>. And another one. Does anyone<\/i> do the opening of this with a semi-chorus as Parry requested?<\/p>\n Vaughan Williams, Lord, thou hast been our refuge<\/em>. An almost Jan\u00e1\u010dek-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).<\/p>\n Poulenc, Videntes stellam<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n Walton, Drop, drop, slow tears<\/em>. Still can’t believe how young he was when he wrote this.<\/p>\n Finzi, Lo, the full, final sacrifice<\/em>. A cult piece when I was a student.<\/p>\n 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<\/i>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … Continue reading