CE Exeter Cathedral Wed, 17th January 2018

[Vox Humana]

Can anyone recommend a recording of the psalms? Kings did the Psalms of David under Willcocks - are they well done, do you think?

Yes, the Willcocks recordings are excellent, as is the one King's made under his successor Philip Ledger. Many people also speak very highly of the psalms recording by St John's, Cambridge under George Guest - indeed some hold it to be the best psalm CD of all time. Priory Records have issued two complete series of the Psalms of David, sung by various different cathedral choirs. The CDs are a mixed bag, but IMO series one is generally more successful than series two, probably because the choirs are singing from their own chant books, whereas in series two the chants were selected first and then went in search of choirs to sing them.

[Dafydd y G.W.]

It's sad that psalms are sometimes omitted or truncated, particularly when the Blessing is sometimes being said as early as 4.15. I'd prefer to hear a psalm than a very long organ voluntary.

As if may have said before ... the psalms are the essence of the office to which all the other matter is strictly speaking an addition. Therefore if brevity is required it makes more sense to omit everything else before you start cutting the psalmody.

[mw963]

As if may have said before ... the psalms are the essence of the office to which all the other matter is strictly speaking an addition. Therefore if brevity is required it makes more sense to omit everything else before you start cutting the psalmody.

I think we probably all agree with you, but try telling that to idiot-vicars whose priority is to tick such boxes as "inclusiveness".