‘The Psalms’ CD release - Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge

[Keraulophone]

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The Psalms - no, not all of them but thirteen - are introduced here by Andrew Nethsingha in a typically meaningful way.

https://youtu.be/oJEbh0LSYIM

If there is currently better psalm singing on this earth, I am unaware of it. If you are able, wander into the chapel of St John’s College, Cambridge before Evensong; sit and be transported. (But do so before the end of this term, for change is afoot.)

https://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/listen/choir-releases/psalms

[jonfan]

Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, are still on this earth! Is your daughter still speaking to you K?

[Keraulophone]

Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, are still on this earth! Is your daughter still speaking to you K?

Haha..!

(She’s far too busy rehearsing to read our ramblings!)
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[jonfan]

Thank you for both of these links. A must buy!!

[Pulcinella]

Any thoughts on the complete set (10 CDs, each from a different cathedral) that Priory Records made?
I haven't heard any so can't comment.

(This link, to the whole set, shows only the cover of Volume 7!)

https://www.prioryrecords.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2142

From the blurb:

The Cathedral Choirs of Hereford, Wells, Durham, Lichfield, Gloucester, Guildford, Norwich, Ely, Rochester, and York. Priory's famous set of all 150 Psalms of David sung by ten leading cathedral choirs from around the UK. Please note that the ten CDs are individually packed.

[Keraulophone]

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‘Any thoughts on the complete set?’

Priory has recorded the complete Psalms twice, but I’m not sure which traversal this one is. If it’s the second, be slightly cautious because their aim was “to use chants hitherto unrecorded", which means excluding favourite chants recorded the first time through. The set is on offer from the Priory website for £49.99, though I would go for the magnificent complete set recorded by Hyperion with St Paul’s Cathedral Choir directed by the late great John Scott. Right now, it is available in a ‘very good’ s/h copy for £24.48 from the river people: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Psalms-Davi.../dp/B00006GO6J

One set affords variety and t’other unity of style and execution. Simple answer - acquire both.
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[ardcarp]

I was struck by the way AN said 'We are lucky at St John's to have plenty of time for rehearsal'. I do hope he doesn't find the Abbey too 'busy'. A very different setting from collegiate tranquility! Very good luck to him from next term onwards.

[Vox Humana]

Any thoughts on the complete set (10 CDs, each from a different cathedral) that Priory Records made?
I haven't heard any so can't comment.

(This link, to the whole set, shows only the cover of Volume 7!)

https://www.prioryrecords.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2142

From the blurb:

The Cathedral Choirs of Hereford, Wells, Durham, Lichfield, Gloucester, Guildford, Norwich, Ely, Rochester, and York. Priory's famous set of all 150 Psalms of David sung by ten leading cathedral choirs from around the UK. Please note that the ten CDs are individually packed.

As Keraulophone says, Priory Records have recorded two complete series of the Psalms of David. The link you gave is to the first set. This is, I believe, cathedral choirs singing extracts from their own psalters/chant-books. For the second set, the idea was, indeed, to record chants that had not been recorded before. These were selected initially by Peter Kirk, who maintains a National Archive of Anglican Chant (consisting of over 20,000 chants so far). Peter had then to negotiate with the DoMs who would typically reject some of his suggestions and sometimes insist on inserting their own compositions. My personal opinion is that the first Priory series is far superior because the chants have all been tried and tested by experienced DoMs and tend to match the words well. To my mind, the matching of chants and words in the second series is not nearly so successful (and I say that as someone who was lucky enough to have a chant selected). Also, inevitably, those matches aren't deep in the choirs' blood in the way they are in the first series (although the performances are never less than good). I think both series are probably available on YouTube; the second certainly is.

[crb11]

I'd agree with what others have said about the two Priory series. The first is of a generally high standard with a good variety of chants. One disc I didn't feel was as good as the rest, and a few of the chants, but we're in the realms of personal preference here. The second was a relative disappointment, both in terms of chant choice and in some cases performance which would be explained by Vox Humana's explanation.

Contrary to what others have said, I wouldn't recommend the St Paul's one, mainly because of the acoustic. I found it very hard to make out the words, and they are usually taken rather slower than the Priory set, presumably to deal with the echo. (One or two of the Priory discs have some of the same issues, but not nearly so much.)

[MickyD]

Thank you for all this useful advice - I've been looking for recordings of the Psalms for a while. Whilst that Hyperion set is a terrific bargain, having heard some extracts, I would agree that the sound is rather muddy...and I'm usually one who likes big acoustics! Not sure also that I need ten or twelve discs of Psalms, so I am going to dip my toe into the water with that latest St John's release recommended above by Keraulophone...from what I have heard in the YouTube clip, the disc sounds absolutely glorious.

[orson]

There were a couple of discs by Wabbey in the very early 90s I think - Martin Neary and Andy Lumsden on pipes. Some very good singing and absolutely fantastic accompaniments there. Probably out of stock now, though the Abbey gift shop had them when I was last there (about 6 years ago).

[Magister Chori]

There were a couple of discs by Wabbey in the very early 90s I think - Martin Neary and Andy Lumsden on pipes. Some very good singing and absolutely fantastic accompaniments there. Probably out of stock now, though the Abbey gift shop had them when I was last there (about 6 years ago).

Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...Jd7turIATXSleE

[Keraulophone]

Some very good singing and absolutely fantastic accompaniments there.

This was recorded fairly early during Martin Neary’s tenure and would have included many members of the late Simon Preston’s choir of three years earlier, partly accounting for the excellence of the singing. I do find Neary rushing some moments in the Psalms. Whereas these sound like recordings, Nethsingha’s Psalms are more devotional, as if taken from a service in St John’s chapel.

Andrew Lumsden’s colourful, without being OTT, organ accompaniment is helped in Westminster Abbey by the distance of the choir stalls from much of the instrument, the organist thus being able to employ more of the organ. In a recording, microphone and choir positioning can be ideally judged, but their daily psalm-singing in situ will have informed the general balance successfully achieved here.
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[ardcarp]

On the subject of balance, I went to CE at Westminster Abbey a few years ago. I was in London on another mission, and just thought I'd drop in. The weekday congregation was ushered up to chairs East of the choir, which sang very well, but the Psalms were virtually drowned out by the organ. This was quite early on on James O'Donnell's reign, so perhaps they hadn't quite got it sorted then.

[ocarina]

I remember when the Westminster Abbey / Neary psalms came out! I bought one of the set of two I think, and later caught up with the double cd set. Still £8 Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Psalms-Martin-Neary/dp/B0007DHQ4I/