Catalogue

Summary:

“The unison singing of the exposed sections in the Howells is particularly notable, impressively unanimous in its nuanced expressivity … Overall, this is a splendidly recorded and packaged snapshot of a great choral institution, still going as strongly as ever” ★★★★ – BBC Music Magazine

“The boys’ voices are rich and powerful in Taverner’s Christe Jesu: they know an expressive line when they see one. Their heartbreaking simplicity in the seasonal Bethlehem Down shows they understand how to work the crowd at a carol service” – Classic FM Magazine

“The lower adult voices have as much dynamic strength and colour as the trebles, resulting in satisfying polyphonic textures in the early music and sonorous chordal harmonies in the more recent compositions…A very enjoyable CD, thanks to the rewarding choice of music and the magnificent performances of all the singers and instrumentalists; a recording to treasure” – Gramophone

“A varied recital, beautifully sung by one of the finest Oxbridge college choirs” – The Sunday Times

Treasures of Christ Church is a newly recorded, special collection spanning 500 years of English choral music performed from original manuscripts, uncovering the unique history of music at Christ Church, Oxford. All of the composers on Treasures had an association with Christ Church (whose hallowed halls were famously seen in the Harry Potter films), stretching back to the tenure of John Taverner, through Tallis, Handel, Purcell and Byrd to present day world premiere recordings of works by John Rutter and Howard Goodall.

Tracklist:

1. George Frideric HANDEL Zadok the priest * (5:40)
2. William WALTON Set me as a seal (3:34 )
3. Thomas TALLIS Salvator mundi (3:44)
4. Henry PURCELL O God, thou art my God (3:54)
5. Robert PARSONS Ave Maria (4:44)
6. Benjamin BRITTEN Shepherd’s Carol (4:54)
7. Herbert HOWELLS Like as the hart * (6:14)
8. John TAVENER The Lord’s Prayer (2:34)
9. John TAVERNER Christe Jesu (3:24)
10. Francis GRIER My breath lies quiet (1:56)
11. Peter WARLOCK Bethlehem Down (4:15)
12. John RUTTER Canticle of the Heavenly City (6:23)
13. William BYRD O Lord make thy servant Elizabeth (2:57)
14. Stephen DARLINGTON Jacob’s Ladder (2:44)
15. Orlando GIBBONS Great Lord of Lords * (4:46)
16. Howard GOODALL Veni, Sancte Spiritus (4:45)
17. Thomas WEELKES Hosanna to the Son of David (1:50)

Total duration: 68:45

digital bonus track
18. PURCELL Thou knowest Lord (2:00)

* with organ accompaniment

Recorded in the Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, England, 21–23 March 2011
Recording producer: David Trendell
Balance engineer: Simon Fox-Gál