A Few Rare Welsh Bits #2008
…intriguing choral and organ repertoire from or about Wales, to honor the country's patron, Saint David, and the 'Land of Song'.
Hour 1
TRADITIONAL: Hymn, Hyfrydol –Pontarddulais Male Choir/Noel G. Davies, director; David Bell (1921 Willis/Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, Wales) Conifer 137
WILLIAM MATHIAS: Let the people praise thee, Op. 87 –Wells Cathedral Choir/Matthew Owens; Jonathan Vaughn (1974 Harrison/Wells Cathedral, England) Hyperion 67740
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: 3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes (Bryn Calfaria & Hyfrydol) –Robert Joyce (1958 Hill, Norman & Beard/Llandaff Cathedral, Wales) EMI 85416; (Rhosymedre) –Alan McGuinness (1998 Wood/St. Asaph Cathedral, Wales) Regent 287
HAROLD CARPENTER LUMB STOCKS: Variations on Y Delyn Aur/The Golden Harp –John Hosking (1898 Hill-1998 Wood/St. Asaph Cathedral, Denbighshire, Wales) Regent 402
WILLIAM MATHIAS: As truly as God is our Father –Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London/John Scott; Andrew Lucas (Mander/St. Paul Cathedral, London) Hyperion 66519
MATHIAS: Fantasy, Op. 78 (1978) –John Scott (Mander/St. Paul Cathedral, London) Nimbus 5367
Filler – MATHIAS: Let the people praise thee (see above)
Hour 2
TERTIUS NOBLE: Prelude on Aberystwyth –John Scott Whiteley (1903-1960 Walker/York Minster, England) Priory 1116
MATHIAS: All thy works shall praise thee –St. Albans Abbey Girls Choir and Lay Clerks/Tom Winpenny; Michael Papadopoulos (1962 Harrison/St. Albans Cathedral, England) Naxos 8.573523
MANSEL THOMAS: Anthem, For thy servant David –Llandaff Cathedral Choir/Michael Smith; Michael Hoeg (1958 Hill, Norman & Beard/Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, Llandaff, Wales) Priory 510
W. T. BEST: Concert Fantasia on a Welsh March (Gorhoffedd Gwyr Harlech/Men of Harlech) –Thomas Heywood (1927 Casavant-2002 Schantz/St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN) PD Archive (r. 9/15/03)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: 2 Organ Preludes founded on Welsh Folk Songs (Toccata, St. David’s Day & Romanza, The White Rock) –David Briggs (1912 Walker/Sacred Heart Church, Wimbledon, England) Albion 021/22
JOHN HOSKING: Te Deum –Selwyn College Chapel Choir & Ely Girls Choir/Sarah MacDonald; Timothy Parsons (1908-2001 Harrison/Ely Cathedral, England) Regent 438 (this work commissioned by and premiered at St. Asaph’s Cathedral, Wales) Regent 438
ALEXANDER MASON: Improvisation on Suo Gan –Alexander Mason (1883 Willis-2000 Harrison/St. David’s Cathedral, Wales) Regent 319
JOHN HUGHES: Hymn, Arwelfa –1988 Male Chorus Festival Choir/Haydn James; Carys Hughes (Willis-Harrison/Royal Albert Hall, London) Polyphonic 004D
Filler – OWEN: Bryn Calfaria/Laudamus (Polyphonic 004)
The Welsh patronal feast, Saint David's Day, is observed on March 1.
