Viri Galilaei: Favourite Anthems from Merton
Charles Warren, Peter Shepherd
Choir of Merton College, Oxford, Benjamin Nicholas, Peter Phillips
the Merton choir's singing is notable for its clarity. The polyphonic lines of Byrd's Diliges Dominum, the antiphonal effects of Harris's classic Faire is the heaven and even the dense textures...
Viri Galilaei: Favourite Anthems from Merton
Charles Warren, Peter Shepherd
Choir of Merton College, Oxford, Benjamin Nicholas, Peter Phillips
Purchase product
the Merton choir's singing is notable for its clarity. The polyphonic lines of Byrd's Diliges Dominum, the antiphonal effects of Harris's classic Faire is the heaven and even the dense textures...
About
Now firmly established amongst Oxbridge’s finest choral foundations and at the same time certainly its youngest, the Choir of Merton College can be relied upon to present a selection of favourite anthems which similarly combines fresh inspiration with timeless musical values.
The choir’s fifth Delphian recording in five years again showcases the talents of its joint directors Benjamin Nicholas and Peter Phillips, with Phillips’ love of polyphony complemented by Nicholas’s flair and commitment in some of the twentieth century’s major choral works. Bookending these ‘favourites’ are Patrick Gowers’ now iconic Ascension Day anthem Viri Galilaei and Jonathan Dove’s newly minted Te Deum, commissioned by Merton College as part of the Merton Choirbook – the largest series of commissions of its kind in modern times, created in celebration of the College’s 750th anniversary.
Contents and tracklist
- Francis Shepherd (tenor), Peter Shepherd (organ)
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Peter Phillips
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Charles Warren (organ)
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Peter Phillips
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Charles Warren (organ)
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Peter Shepherd (organ)
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Peter Shepherd (organ), Oliver Kelham (tenor)
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Peter Phillips
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Francis Shepherd (tenor), Thomas Herring (bass), Charles Warren (organ)
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Peter Phillips
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Peter Shepherd (organ), Charles Warren (organ)
- Choir of Merton College Oxford
- Benjamin Nicholas
- Recorded: 28-30 June 2015
- Recording Venue: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, United Kingdom
Awards and reviews
April 2016
the Merton choir's singing is notable for its clarity. The polyphonic lines of Byrd's Diliges Dominum, the antiphonal effects of Harris's classic Faire is the heaven and even the dense textures of Parry's Blest pair of sirens have about them an almost class-like transparency…this is a lovely collection of good music, well performed, beautifully sung and exquisitely recorded. Who could ask for anything more?
June 2016
With some ensembles, orchestras and choirs one very soon runs out of superlatives. The Merton College Choir, though but recently founded, and their association with the Delphian label, offers one such case.
