Choral Edition: Volume 1

 

The best of the series!

This first volume features all of Britten's Odes and Hymns, which I enjoy very much.

So too, the composer's quirky cantata Rejoice in the Lamb is a lot of fun, as are the other multi-movement choral suites.

I enjoy the Finzi Singers under Paul Spicer for their hearty sound with vibrato. Others might prefer The Sixteen on Coro or Polyphony on Hyperion for a different choral sound.

A review from 2021

This first volume of Benjamin Britten’s choral music, performed by The Finzi Singers under Paul Spicer, can now be found collated together with the other three volumes on Chandos, in case you want it all. For my money, though, Volume 1 offers the finest of the set of three: Britten’s four beautiful hymn settings, the Choral Dances from Gloriana, the rarely performed A.M.D.G, and the quirky cantata Rejoice in the Lamb.

Christopher Smart’s poetry in Rejoice in the Lamb is just so odd; the movement that makes rhymes with instrument names is set against his love of flora and fauna, taking up the entire center of the 17-minute cantata. Odes to his cat Jeoffrey, the valiant mouse being chased by his cat, the flowers outside his asylum cell, all receive gentle soloist spotlights, while the chorus is highly rhythmic in its comparison of Biblical characters and their animal counterparts. This is Britten at his most gentle, but there are quirks galore, such as the characterful organ part, the mixed choral rhythms, and easy-going bitonality.

Hymn to St. Cecilia is a 10-minute, a cappella masterpiece. Britten writes for chorus instrumentally and the three sections are a treasure. The other three hymns are also special: Virgin with its beautiful semi-chorus, and St. Peter a microcosm of St. Cecilia.

The Choral Dances of Gloriana and A.M.D.G are secular choral works that show Britten’s love of setting interesting texts, nonetheless Rejoice in the Lamb as well, and his musical language is always quite interesting and often surprising.

The Finzi Singers are an adult, mixed British chamber choir of 18 singers, using an alto section of females and male altos. They are free with their vibrato, different than many English choirs, and their tone is full and ruddy, nicely balanced, yet characterful. The soloists come from within the ensemble, and Carys Lane rises to the top as something special. Andrew Lumsden ably supports this music on pipe organ.

I like that their director Paul Spicer doesn’t just dwell in the beauty and difficulty of this music, but he delivers impact and musicality throughout the works. A Britten specialist in his own right, Spicer’s authority and Chandos wonderful sonics make this recording very appealing.

The Sixteen under Harry Christophers on Coro offer an almost identical program, although they do not perform the rarer A.M.D.G, which is the boon to this collection. Stephen Layton and Polyphony have a similar program on Hyperion, although that adult choir is a bit more sterile in tone than I care for, but may appeal to those who like a bit more cathedral atmosphere in their Britten.

For me, Volume 1 is the best from this set of Britten’s choral music. The entire package is still preferred to have it all.

 

Works
Hymn to St. Peter, op. 56a (5.57)
A Hymn of St. Columba (2.04)
A Hymn to the Virgin (2.43)
Hymn to St. Cecilia, op. 27 (10.35)
Rejoice in the Lamb, op. 30 (17.02)
Gloriana: Choral Dances (9.32)
A.M.D.G (18.33)

Performers
Andrew Lumsden, organ
Finzi Singers
Paul Spicer, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 1997
Total Timing: 67.07

Of Paul Spicer's 3-volume set of Britten's a cappella and organ-accompanied choral music, I like this one the best.