Sacred Ayres - Choral Music by Paul Ayres - Regent: REGCD536 - CD

Written with practicality in mind, Ayres’s anthems are all about generous simplicity: big, juicy unison lines, warm three- or four-part homophony and affirmative, tonal-with-a-scrunch harmonies.... — Gramophone Magazine, February 2021 More…

Release Date: 27th Nov 2020
Catalogue No: REGCD536
Label: Regent

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Ayres, P: Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: When I consider thy heavens

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: The Lord my shepherd is

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Crimond (The Lord’s my shepherd)

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: The Lord my pasture shall prepare

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: This is the day

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Be thou my vision

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Grant O God thy protection

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: This joyful Eastertide

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Let all mortal flesh keep silence

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: A new commandment

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Go down Moses

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Motherless Child

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Deep River

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Joshua fought the battle

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: On this mountain

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: God be in my head

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Quanto sei bella

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: The angel Gabriel

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: Go tell it on the mountain

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

Ayres, P: When the song of the angels is stilled

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn, College, Cambridge
Sarah MacDonald

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The latest recording in Selwyn's on-going series devoted to contemporary British church composers features the colourful, imaginative, and beautifully-crafted music of Paul Ayres. This wide-ranging selection of mostly first recordings includes original anthems, psalm-settings, and carols, together with captivating new arrangements of traditional hymns and spiritual songs.

Paul Ayres was born in London, studied music at Oxford University, and now works freelance as a composer & arranger, choral conductor & musical director, and organist & accompanist. He has received over one hundred commissions, and his works have been awarded composition prizes in Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. Paul particularly enjoys "re¬composing" classical works (Purcell, Bach, Handel, Fauré) and "classicizing" pop music (jazz and show tunes, The Beatles, Happy Hardcore).

Paul conducts City Chorus and London College of Music Chorus (at the University of West London), accompanies Concordia Voices, and is associate accompanist of Crouch End Festival Chorus. He has led many music education workshops for children, and played piano for improvised comedy shows and musical theatre.

Please visit www.paulayres.co.uk to find out more.

This is the first recording entirely devoted to his choral compositions. Reviews of recent recordings from the Chapel choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, under their director, Sarah MacDonald, on Regent: REGCD542 ‘unanimous virtuosity. ‘ Organists’ Review ‘Excellent performances throughout ‘ Crossrhythms REGCD503 The superb choir gives as good an account of these pieces as possible.’ American Record Guide REGCD485 ‘The choirs are chameleon-like in their ability to change color, tone, timbre, mood, and idiom on the absolute fly...’ American Record Guide ‘The excellent Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, gives shimmering interpretations of a technically testing programme...As the music builds in so many permutations, you are left with original works of beauty in which Sarah MacDonald guides her singers to great heights.' Choir and Organ

Reviews

February 2021

Written with practicality in mind, Ayres’s anthems are all about generous simplicity: big, juicy unison lines, warm three- or four-part homophony and affirmative, tonal-with-a-scrunch harmonies. They cry out for a school or college choir of hundreds but are nicely showcased by the leaner Selwyn Choir, who have a more ingenuous, youthful sound than their rivals Clare or Trinity that’s well suited to the material.

Sacred Ayres - Choral Music by Paul Ayres

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