Psalms from St Paul's, Vol.1
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Anonymous
Label: Hyperion
Magazine Review Date: 6/1994
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: KP11001
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Psalm 1, 'Blessed is the man' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 2, 'Why do the heathen so furiously rage tog |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 3, 'Lord, how are they increased' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 4, 'Hear me when I call, O God' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 5, 'Ponder my words, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 6, 'O Lord rebuke me not' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 7, 'O Lord my God, in Thee I have put my tru |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 8, 'O Lord our Governor' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 9, 'I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 10, 'Why standest thou so far off, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 11, 'In the Lord put I my trust' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 12, 'Help me Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 13, 'How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 14, '(The) fool hath said in his heart' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 15, 'Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 16, 'Preserve me, O God' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 17, 'Hear the right, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Composer or Director: Anonymous
Label: Hyperion
Magazine Review Date: 6/1994
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 67
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CDP11001
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Psalm 1, 'Blessed is the man' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 2, 'Why do the heathen so furiously rage tog |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 3, 'Lord, how are they increased' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 4, 'Hear me when I call, O God' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 5, 'Ponder my words, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 6, 'O Lord rebuke me not' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 7, 'O Lord my God, in Thee I have put my tru |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 8, 'O Lord our Governor' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 9, 'I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 10, 'Why standest thou so far off, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 11, 'In the Lord put I my trust' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 12, 'Help me Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 13, 'How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 14, '(The) fool hath said in his heart' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 15, 'Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 16, 'Preserve me, O God' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Psalm 17, 'Hear the right, O Lord' |
Anonymous, Composer
Andrew Lucas, Organ Anonymous, Composer John Scott, Conductor St Paul's Cathedral Choir |
Author:
They have chosen the wrong building, and that effectively means the wrong choir. It is not merely that the words need to be clear (which they are, just about, if you follow the printed text), but that they must be sung on the assumption that they mean what they say. And they say some vigorous things: ''Up, Lord, disappoint him and cast him down'', for instance, or ''Arise, O Lord God, and lift up Thine hand'' which really means ''Up, Lord, and at 'em''. There has to be some fresh impulse at such points, and some real vigour stirring in the delivery. In the first instance, a change of chant (such as we have in Psalm 10) certainly helps, but the fruity, faintly neurasthenic harmonies of Stainer won't do: in operatic terms it is like singing the words of ''Di quella pira'' to the tune of ''Vissi d'arte''. More importantly, if you are to go on the assumption that the words mean what they say and that the choir is here to perform them, then there must be appropriate pace. Again in Psalm 10, a choir that means business could not so placidly recite the derisive stuff of ''He hath said in his heart 'Tush, I shall never be cast down''' (this is the macho mugger who ''sitteth lurking in the thievish corners of the streets, and privily in his lurking dens doth he murder the innocent'').
It may be difficult to chant this clearly and purposefully in St Paul's; but of its kind there are manifold instances, permeating the whole book of Psalms, and that is one of the things to which a new recorded edition ought to be turning its attention. With it goes the need for real speech-rhythm rather than the present compromise, which still gives unintelligent weight to ''of the'' (Psalm 1), isolates ''a'' on the high note of the chant (Psalm 16) and performs ''countenance'' as an even triplet (Psalm 4). The Anglican chant has limitations no doubt (John Scott tells a good story of Dvorak bemused on his first visit to St Paul's and enquiring ''Why do they sing such a bad tune over and over again?''). But it can make much better and more interesting sense than it does here.
For those who will not share these views and disappointments of mine it should be added that the famous choir sings with fine tone, blend and unanimity; that Andrew Lucas colours the accompaniments skilfully; that recorded sound is rich; and that the booklet is excellent apart from the apparently random omission of a verse or two in Psalms 3 and 5.'
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
SubscribeGramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.