Join the Choir of Hereford Cathedral as they celebrate Easter Sunday!

This new recording (the first in three years from this wonderful choir) showcases the range of music typically sung in Hereford Cathedral during the three main services on this major day in the church’s year. We have all the music for Matins, including Responses and Psalms. The Canticles and Anthem focus on Charles Villiers Stanford with the Te Deum and Jubilate in C, and the exuberant Easter favourite Ye choirs of new Jerusalem.

The Eucharist features English polyphonic works in Latin for Easter from William Byrd and John Tavener, together with Jean Langlais’ massive Messe solennelle.

As befitting this major festival, Evensong features Herbert Howells’ largest-scale setting of the Evening Canticles – the St Paul’s Service – and the disc concludes with another Easter favourite: Blessed be the God and Father, with its beautiful treble solo ‘Love one another‘ written by Samuel Sebastian Wesley while he was organist of Hereford Cathedral.

“Hereford Cathedral Choir performs with captivating vigour, fervour and attention to detail, in this bright acoustic where the producer/engineer Gary Cole has managed to capture proceedings with impressive clarity.” Birmingham Post, 6 August 2009

“If you like the chaste beauty of the English cathedral tradition, as I do, you will warm to this recital in the atmospheric acoustic of Hereford Cathedral.” Financial Times, 1 August 2009

“...a glowing recording by this fine choir, which features an impressive set of trebles” The Observer, 23 August 2009

“Hereford Cathedral Choir's Christmas from Hereford offers an engagingly rounded, friendly sound and committed energy (especially form the boys), along with excellent organ accompaniment.” Gramophone, December 2012

“Under Geraint Bowen's direction the character of each piece is clearly defined. Each is performed with careful attention to phrasing and recorded to give a strong feeling of the atmosphere of the cathedral. Highly recommended.” Organists’ Review, December 2012

Matins
1 Introit: This joyful Eastertide — Dutch traditional arr. Charles Wood
2 Preces — John Sanders
3 Easter Anthems — Chant: Edwin Monk
4 Psalm 114 — Chant: Tonus peregrinus
5 Te Deum in C — Charles Villiers Stanford
6 Jubilate in C — Charles Villiers Stanford
7 Responses — John Sanders
8 Ye choirs of new Jerusalem — Charles Villiers Stanford

Eucharist
9 Introit: In resurrectione tua — William Byrd
10-14 Messe solennelle — Jean Langlais
15 Dum transisset I — John Taverner

Evensong
16-17 St Paul’s Service — Herbert Howells
18 Blessed be the God and Father — Samuel Sebastian Wesley