This is an attractively constructed programme of anthems and voluntaries by one of our own most gifted baroque composers. Boyce was a younger contemporary of Handel and a great champion of his music, which he tirelessly and enthusiastically promoted. Nowadays Boyce is chiefly known for his 'symphonies', but in his own day he was mainly concerned with the composition of vocal music. This new disc testifies to his strength in setting sacred texts and to his sensibility towards the words themselves. His anthems with organ accompaniment have been harshly assessed by some critics, yet much here seems to warrant warmer enthusiasm than is sometimes shown, and more especially when the performances are as sympathetic as these. Five of the pieces are verse anthems which essentially belong to the tradition established by the Restoration composers in the previous century. Three others—Wherewithal shall a young man, Turn thee unto me and By the waters of Babylon—are earlier full anthems consisting of outer choral movements which frame one for a smaller ensemble of voices. In addition to the anthems Edward Higginbottom has included three organ voluntaries from Boyce's ''Ten Voluntaries for Organ and Harpsichord''. The authenticity of some of these has been questioned, although they sound well enough in the present context.
The choir of New College, Oxford is on characteristically strong form; indeed, I found the well-balanced vocal strands, the clear textures, sure intonation and upper-strand brilliance even more beguiling than usual. The verse anthem I have surely built thee an house comes over splendidly, affording an example of this choir at its most impressive. But much else here is of a comparably high calibre as is, for example, the beautifully controlled and sensitive interpretation of the fine anthem By the waters of Babylon, a particularly happy marriage of words and music. Higginbottom brings an effective lucidity to the solo vocal ensemble while suffusing the whole with a soft radiance. How any listener could be left indifferent to this music is quite beyond comprehension. Only a hint of instability momentarily emerged in O where shall wisdom be found?. Certainly the voluntaries earn a diminished star beside the anthems though, as I say, they are strategically placed to enhance the programme.
In summary, here is a rewarding release. Higginbottom has previously recorded Turn thee unto me and O where shall wisdom be found? for Meridian ((CD) CDE84151, 10/89), but four of the other anthems are new to The Classical Catalogue. Perhaps Higginbottom might consider exploring some of the surviving anthems with orchestra for a future project. Meanwhile, a warm welcome to the present disc, effectively recorded in New College Chapel.'