Classical Music: Hope Soars Above Music By Gibbons, Byrd, Tomkins, And Bull

HOPE SOARS ABOVE
Music by Gibbons, Byrd, Tomkins, and Bull

Orlando Gibbons O Thou, the central orb; Second Evening Service; Short Evening Service; Out of the deep; Fantazia of foure parts (Organ solo: James Anderson-Besant); William Byrd Sing joyfully; Fantasia in C (Organ solo: Andrew Wyatt); John Bull Almighty God, which by the leading of a star; Thomas Tomkins Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom; A Sad Pavan for these distracted times (Organ solo: Jeremy Wan).

Truro Cathedral Choir. James Anderson-Besant –Director Andrew Wyatt –Organ

Regent Records REGCD599
https://www.regent-records.co.uk/

John Henry Newman caught the spirit of this wonderful disc so well in his famous prayer: 'O Lord, support us all the day long, till the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done…'

On a cold December evening as you return from work and settle down with a cup of tea, this disc is the perfect accompaniment—a radiant beacon cutting through the winter gloom.

Released to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625), the recording juxtaposingly pairs sacred choral and solo organ works by Gibbons himself with those by his contemporaries William Byrd, John Bull, and Thomas Tomkins.

It's heartening to hear this repertoire sung with such enthusiasm and excellence. The recently appointed Director of Music, James Anderson Besant—one of the youngest cathedral directors of music in the country—brings this musical feast to life with a choir that engages wholeheartedly with its singing. Good warmth of tone combines with fine vocal timbres and crystalline diction, whilst the ebb and flow of dynamics and phrasing is beautifully conveyed as the polyphonic music swirls and flares round the lovely acoustics of Truro Cathedral, transporting the listener to another dimension. The soloists interconnect with each other and the choir excellently, creating a seamless tapestry of sound.

The recording also features three solo organ works, two of which are played on the historic John Byfield organ in St Mary's Aisle of the Cathedral, which contains pipework dating from 1750—wonderfully atmospheric and lending an authentic period colour to the proceedings.

The disc derives its inspiring title from a line in the opening anthem, O thou the central orb. The words, written by Henry Ramsden Bramley in 1873, replaced the original text of Gibbons's 1619 anthem, O all true faithful hearts, which had very restricted use in giving thanks for the recovery of King James VI. Bramley's radiant text opened up the appeal and wider usage of this otherwise forgotten fine anthem, and here it blazes forth with conviction.

This choir has flair and a fine pedigree, and as the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, this recording offers precisely that support and solace Newman so eloquently articulated. Hope, indeed, soars above.