Tune in on April 9 at 8 p.m. for an encore broadcast of the Westminster Choir performing in Collegeville as part of the 50th anniversary of the Saint John's Abbey and University Church.
The famed Choir of London's Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral appeared in concert October 2011 in Collegeville as part of the 50th anniversary of the Saint John's Abbey and University Church. The concert also marked the inaugural year of the Institute for Sacred Music at Saint John's.
Their repertoire spanned four centuries, from Renaissance to modern, with special emphasis given to Spanish Renaissance master Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of his death, and his older contemporary Francesco Guerrero. Other works, by Herbert Howells, George Malcom, Edward Bairstow and James MacMillan, several composed expressly for this Cathedral choir, represented modern times.
In a country where Anglican choral traditions date back many centuries, an ensemble such as the Westminster Cathedral Choir, established as recently as 1903, might seem to need to be extra special to stand out...and it does. Conceived to a high standard by its first Master of Music, Richard Terry, the ensemble was further developed by George Malcom and his successors Colin Mawby, Stephen Cleobury, David Hill and James O'Donnell, and today is considered one of the world's finest choral ensembles serving the Roman Catholic Church.
Preston Smith (of PerfectRecord) recorded the Westminster Cathedral Choir in Collegeville on October 23, 2011.
Program
Ralph Vaughan Williams: "Kyrie" from Mass in G minor
George Malcom: Miserere mei Deus
Tomas Luis De Victoria: Requiem, Missa pro Defunctis
James MacMillan: Christus vincit
James MacMillan: A New Song
Francisco Guerrero: Ave virgo sanctissima
Tomas Luis de Victoria: Vidi speciosam
Johann Sebastian Bach: Fugue in E-flat major, "St. Anne", BWV 552b
Herbert Howells: Salve Regina
Edward Bairstow: Blessed City, Heavenly Salem
(Encore)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Ave verum corpus
Marcel Dupre: Cortege and Litanie
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.
