Programme notes are available here.

"A Hymn to the Virgin"

Meridian Records, CDE 84418

11 tracks; 60'32"

Recorded by John Shuttleworth
Producer: Gary Skyrme

TRACK LISTING:
Robert Parsons (c. 1530 - 1570): Ave Maria
Hans Leo Hassler (c. 1564 - 1612): Dixit Maria
Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548 - 1611): Salve Regina à 8
Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971): Ave Maria
Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943): Bogoroditsye Dyevo
Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963): Litanies à la Vierge Noire; Salve Regina
Andrzej Panufnik (1914 - 1991): Song to the Virgin Mary
Anton Bruckner (1824 - 1896): Ave Maria
Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): A Hymn to the Virgin
Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983): Magnificat (Collegium Regale)

Organists' Review (May 2000) wrote:

"Well, here is another cracker of a recording. Another themed programme and certainly not the first I have reviewed based on Marian texts, and what truly lovely music it all is. Canticum is a mixed voice chamber choir founded in 1989, based at the Temple Church. Early directors included Timothy Brown and Hilary Davan Wetton. Under the present director we hear on this recording singing of exquisite control and refinement, especially in the a cappella pieces. A high spot has to be the Litanies of Poulenc where the choir's expressive and at times impassioned singing is complemented by the organ accompanying of Peter Barley. I was left wondering where this recording had taken place (information not readily available on the sleeve), but certainly somewhere with a lively yet warm acoustic and a decent sized instrument."
[It was recorded at Temple Church]

"The Panufnik Song to the Virgin Mary is a substantial piece which was commissioned for the Lake District Festival in 1964; what a hard opening for the sopranos - such a haunting theme, which is then reworked and harmonised in an increasingly complex manner leading to a huge climax. This piece alone is sure testimony to the abilities of this choir and its director. After this I was left a little apprehensive at the thought of yet another recording of the Coll Reg, but I was not disappointed - the performance which finishes the disc is magisterial in style - if perhaps a little lacking in urgency at the start. A small criticism, I think of the recording as opposed to the choir, is that the sopranos' higher notes tend to sound just a little thin at times - and this was especially noticeable in the Gloria where the voices split. Small criticism though of what is a fine disc, warmly recommended."

Sold in aid of the Samaritans (Kingston-upon-Thames)

Recorded by John Shuttleworth
Producer: Gary Skyrme

TRACK LISTING:

Iain Burnside, on BBC Radio 3's "CD Review", said:

"...Better by far to save your pennies for a Carol recording with some real Xmas Spirit - a disc by the chamber choir Canticum and their conductor Mark Forkgen. I'm happy to give it the big thumbs up not just because of the polish and refinement of the singing, but because all its profits will go to a branch of the Samaritans.

"And surely even Ebeneezer Scrooge himself would be touched by something in the course of these 24 generous tracks."

has reasonable sound quality is a smaller file with reduced sound quality.

All extracts are © Meridian Records and are used with thanks.