SKU: ST.W227

ISBN 9790220223617.

The Gloria in Excelsis was written by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford for the coronation of HM King George V on 22 June 1911. It was an occasion of some note in the annals of British music, for Elgar's Coronation March and Parry's grand festival Te Deum were also heard for the first time that day. In addition, there was music by Thomas Tallis, Orlando Gibbons and Sir John Stainer, as well as by the Master of the King's Music and organist of St George's Chapel, Windsor, Sir Walter Parratt.

It was published the following year as part of Stanford's Opus 128, the Festal Communion Service for voices and orchestra, which was also made available with the accompaniment arranged by the composer for organ. However, such was the popularity of the Gloria, a magnificent and wholly representative example of Stanford's genius for church music, that it soon became popular as a separate piece, either with organ or orchestral accompaniment, and it was included in the orders of service for the coronations of HM King George VI on 12 May 1937 and HM Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953.

Orchestral material is available on hire (ref. HL189).

SKU: CA.3122793

Key: E minor. German. Text: Johann Frank.

For many choral singers Jesu, meine Freude is not just a motet by Bach, but the motet par excellence. Bach's motets as a whole have to be described as exceptional works, but even amongst these this is an exceptional work which is out of the ordinary not only in terms of its length. The formal conception, with its alternating chorale and Bible verses in 11 sections in a symmetrical structure, is also unique. The motet was very probably composed for a funeral, but no further details about this are known. By comparison, there are clear indications that the motet, as we now know it, was probably not composed in one go, but was composed over a long period of time. Score available separately - see item CA.3122700.

SKU: CA.3122791

Key: E minor. German. Text: Johann Frank.

For many choral singers Jesu, meine Freude is not just a motet by Bach, but the motet par excellence. Bach's motets as a whole have to be described as exceptional works, but even amongst these this is an exceptional work which is out of the ordinary not only in terms of its length. The formal conception, with its alternating chorale and Bible verses in 11 sections in a symmetrical structure, is also unique. The motet was very probably composed for a funeral, but no further details about this are known. By comparison, there are clear indications that the motet, as we now know it, was probably not composed in one go, but was composed over a long period of time. Score available separately - see item CA.3122700.

SKU: CA.3810405

ISBN 9790007215057. Language: Latin.

At the age of just 20, Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Kantor of St. Thomas's, left behind the Lutheran musical tradition of his family: he went to Italy, converted to Catholicism there and successfully composed operas for Turin, Milan and Naples. Frequently overlooked are the Catholic Bach's exquisite church music works, almost all written in the years 1757-1760, and which had a significant influence on his time in Italy. These include large-scale Vesper settings with impressive, symphonic-style instrumental introductions, sometimes anticipating Mozartian idioms. Bach's Domine ad adjuvandum me, an immediately captivating work, was written for the opening of Vespers; it seems to be carried along by a sense of euphoric purpose and a dynamic lightheartedness which positively radiates southern European temperament. The work is published in the authoritative Stuttgart Urtext edition, based on the rediscovered Hamburg autograph manuscript. Score available separately - see item CA.3810400.

SKU: CA.3810419

ISBN 9790007215118. Language: Latin.

At the age of just 20, Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Kantor of St. Thomas's, left behind the Lutheran musical tradition of his family: he went to Italy, converted to Catholicism there and successfully composed operas for Turin, Milan and Naples. Frequently overlooked are the Catholic Bach's exquisite church music works, almost all written in the years 1757-1760, and which had a significant influence on his time in Italy. These include large-scale Vesper settings with impressive, symphonic-style instrumental introductions, sometimes anticipating Mozartian idioms. Bach's Domine ad adjuvandum me, an immediately captivating work, was written for the opening of Vespers; it seems to be carried along by a sense of euphoric purpose and a dynamic lightheartedness which positively radiates southern European temperament. The work is published in the authoritative Stuttgart Urtext edition, based on the rediscovered Hamburg autograph manuscript. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.3810400.

SKU: CA.3810411

ISBN 9790007215071. Language: Latin.

At the age of just 20, Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Kantor of St. Thomas's, left behind the Lutheran musical tradition of his family: he went to Italy, converted to Catholicism there and successfully composed operas for Turin, Milan and Naples. Frequently overlooked are the Catholic Bach's exquisite church music works, almost all written in the years 1757-1760, and which had a significant influence on his time in Italy. These include large-scale Vesper settings with impressive, symphonic-style instrumental introductions, sometimes anticipating Mozartian idioms. Bach's Domine ad adjuvandum me, an immediately captivating work, was written for the opening of Vespers; it seems to be carried along by a sense of euphoric purpose and a dynamic lightheartedness which positively radiates southern European temperament. The work is published in the authoritative Stuttgart Urtext edition, based on the rediscovered Hamburg autograph manuscript. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3810400.

SKU: CA.3810413

ISBN 9790007215095. Language: Latin.

At the age of just 20, Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Kantor of St. Thomas's, left behind the Lutheran musical tradition of his family: he went to Italy, converted to Catholicism there and successfully composed operas for Turin, Milan and Naples. Frequently overlooked are the Catholic Bach's exquisite church music works, almost all written in the years 1757-1760, and which had a significant influence on his time in Italy. These include large-scale Vesper settings with impressive, symphonic-style instrumental introductions, sometimes anticipating Mozartian idioms. Bach's Domine ad adjuvandum me, an immediately captivating work, was written for the opening of Vespers; it seems to be carried along by a sense of euphoric purpose and a dynamic lightheartedness which positively radiates southern European temperament. The work is published in the authoritative Stuttgart Urtext edition, based on the rediscovered Hamburg autograph manuscript. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3810400.

SKU: CA.3810403

ISBN 9790007143978. Language: Latin.

At the age of just 20, Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Kantor of St. Thomas's, left behind the Lutheran musical tradition of his family: he went to Italy, converted to Catholicism there and successfully composed operas for Turin, Milan and Naples. Frequently overlooked are the Catholic Bach's exquisite church music works, almost all written in the years 1757-1760, and which had a significant influence on his time in Italy. These include large-scale Vesper settings with impressive, symphonic-style instrumental introductions, sometimes anticipating Mozartian idioms. Bach's Domine ad adjuvandum me, an immediately captivating work, was written for the opening of Vespers; it seems to be carried along by a sense of euphoric purpose and a dynamic lightheartedness which positively radiates southern European temperament. The work is published in the authoritative Stuttgart Urtext edition, based on the rediscovered Hamburg autograph manuscript. Score available separately - see item CA.3810400.

SKU: FG.55011-355-5

Asked to contribute a carol to the already rich Finnish Christmas repertoire, music I've sung myself for many years, I was very aware of the things that mark the season for my adopted countrymen: peace, stillness, the cold landscape and home. When I came across Ester Ahokainen's gentle poem, so focused around these images, it seemed like providence. The resulting song is modest and warmly modal, departing only a little from Finnish tradition: a lingering dissonance here, a moment of quiet sentiment held slightly longer expected there. Like the words, the music opens outward in thanks at the end. Aattoilta was composed for the Helsinki Chamber Choir Christmas CD recording, and is dedicated to them.