Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. (Moderato E Noblimente) - Janet Baker
2. We Are The Music Makers - Janet Baker
3. With Wonderful Deathless Ditties - Janet Baker
4. We, In The Ages Lying - Janet Baker
5. A Breath Of Our Inspiration - Janet Baker
6. They Had No Vision Amazing - Janet Baker
7. And Therefore To-day Is Thrilling - Janet Baker
8. But We, With Our Dreaming And Signing - Janet Baker
9. For We Are Afar With The Dawning - Janet Baker
10. Great Hail! We Cry To The Comers - Janet Baker
11. Prelude (Lento, Mistico - Moderato - Andantino - Come Prima) - John Alldis Choir
12. Jesu, Maria - I Am Near To Death (Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
13. Kyrie Eleison...Holy Mary, Pray For Him (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
14. Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul (Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
15. Be Merciful, Be Gracious (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
16. Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
17. I Can No More (Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
18. Rescue Him, O Lord (Chorus/Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
19. Novissima Hora Est (Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
20. Proficiscere, Anima Christiana (Priest) - John Alldis Choir
21. Go In The Name Of Angels (Chorus/Priest) - John Alldis Choir

Disc 2:

1. (Andantino) - I Went To Sleep (Soul Of Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
2. My Work Is Done (Angel/Soul Of Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
3. All Hail! My Child (Angel/Soul Of Gerontius) - John Alldis Choir
4. Low-Born Clods Of Brute Earth (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
5. It Is The Restless Painting Of Their Being (Angel) - John Alldis Choir
6. The Mind Bold And Independent (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
7. I See Not Those False Spirits (Soul Of Gerontius/Angel) - John Alldis Choir
8. Praise To The Holiest (Chorus/Angel) - John Alldis Choir
9. The Sound Is Like The Rushing Of The Wind (Soul/Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
10. Glory To Him (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
11. They Sing Of Thy Approaching Agony (Angel/Chorus/Soul) - John Alldis Choir
12. But Hark! A Grand Mysterious Harmony (Soul) - John Alldis Choir
13. And Now The Threshold (Angel) - John Alldis Choir
14. Praise To The Holiest (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
15. Thy Judgement Now Is Near (Angel/Soul) - John Alldis Choir
16. Jesu! By That Shuddering Dread (Angel Of The Agony/Soul) - John Alldis Choir
17. Be Merciful, Be Gracious (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
18. Praise To His Name! (Angel) - John Alldis Choir
19. Take Me Away (Soul) - John Alldis Choir
20. Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge (Chorus) - John Alldis Choir
21. Softly And Gently (Angel/Chorus) - John Alldis Choir

Disc 3:

1. Prologue - Choir Of Down House School
2. And It Came To Pass In Those Days - Choir Of Down House School
3. The Dawn - Choir Of Down House School
4. Morning Psalm - Choir Of Down House School
5. The Lord Hath Chosen Them - Choir Of Down House School
6. II: By The Wayside - Choir Of Down House School
7. And Straightway Jesus Constrained His Disciples - Choir Of Down House School
8. In The Tower Of Magdala - Choir Of Down House School
9. This Shall Ye Have Of Mine Hand - Choir Of Down House School
10. When Jesus Came Into The Parts Of Caesarea Philippi - Choir Of Down House School
11. And I Will Give Unto Thee - Choir Of Down House School
12. Turn You To The Stronghold - Choir Of Down House School

Disc 4:

1. Introduction - Choir Of Down House School
2. And It Came To Pass - Choir Of Down House School
3. Then Gathered The Chief Priests And Pharisees - Choir Of Down House School
4. Hail, Master! - Choir Of Down House School
5. Then Judas, Which Had Betrayed Him - Choir Of Down House School
6. Without The Temple - Choir Of Down House School
7. V: Golgotha - Choir Of Down House School
8. VI: At The Sepulchre - Choir Of Down House School
9. We Trusted That It Had Been He - Choir Of Down House School
10. Give Us One Heart - Choir Of Down House School
11. General Introduction - London Philharmonic Choir
12. Introduction To The Apostles And The Kingdom - London Philharmonic Choir
13. Christ, The Man Of Sorrows - London Philharmonic Choir
14. The Spirit Of The Lord - London Philharmonic Choir
15. Christ's Loneliness - London Philharmonic Choir
16. The Beatitudes - London Philharmonic Choir
17. Judas - London Philharmonic Choir
18. St. Peter - London Philharmonic Choir
19. The Gospel - London Philharmonic Choir
20. The Church - London Philharmonic Choir
21. The Fellowship Of The Apostles - London Philharmonic Choir
22. The New Faith (Christianity) - London Philharmonic Choir
23. In The Name Of Jesus Christ - London Philharmonic Choir
24. The Real Presence (Christ) - London Philharmonic Choir
25. Motto Theme Quoted From The Light Of Life - London Philharmonic Choir
26. Motto Theme Quoted From The Dream Of Gerontius - London Philharmonic Choir

Disc 5:

1. Prelude - London Philharmonic Choir
2. Seek First The Kingdom Of God - London Philharmonic Choir
3. Men And Brethren - London Philharmonic Choir
4. O Ye Priests! - London Philharmonic Choir
5. II: At The Beautiful Gate - London Philharmonic Choir
6. And When The Day Of Pentecost - London Philharmonic Choir
7. And Suddenly There Came From Heaven - London Philharmonic Choir
8. Repent, And Be Baptised - London Philharmonic Choir

Disc 6:

1. Then They That Gladly Received His Word - London Philharmonic Choir
2. And As They Spake...The Sun Goeth Down - London Philharmonic Choir
3. The Voice Of Joy - London Philharmonic Choir
4. Thou, Almighty God - London Philharmonic Choir
5. Our Father - London Philharmonic Choir
6. I. Crown The King - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
7. IIa. The Queen - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
8. IIb. Daughter Of Ancient Kings - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
9. III. Britain, Ask Of Thyself - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
10. IV. Hark, Upon The Hallowed Air...Only Let The Heart Be Pure - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
11. V. Peace, Gentle Peace - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
12. VI. Land Of Hope And Glory - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15512 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-02
• Number of discs: 6
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .45 pounds
• Running time: 413 minutes

Customer Reviews

English choral music at its finest

This 6 CD collection from EMI Classics was released in 2006 to coincide nicely with the 150th anniversary (in 2007) of Elgar's birth in 1857. Elgar wrote some dozen or so oratorios, odes and cantatas for soloists, choir and orchestra, and five of these are represented in this set.

These works are played in their entirety, which I think adds great value to the music. I personally like listening to a composer's complete composition, rather than the most popular highlight from the piece, for it often gives a greater appreciation and understanding of the music.

Conductor Sir Adrian Boult (1889-1983) directs all of the works on this collection, as seems fitting considering his thirty year acquaintance with Elgar. Boult was a great supporter of Elgar's music and made many recordings of the composer's works, often revisiting them as recording techniques improved during the 20th Century.

All the works are performed by just two orchestras, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Philharmonic Orchestra, which gives a uniformity and consistency to the set. The vocal sections are by various choirs and soloists, including one of my favourites, the English soprano Janet Baker (she's brilliant, I'm biased).

A nice bonus is the inclusion of a 25 minute narration by Sir Adrian Boult providing an insight to two of the main works on these CDs, `The Apostles' and `The Kingdom'. Included too is a 14 page booklet (10 in English) giving full details of performers, recording dates and venues, in addition to some history of Elgar's music.

This set offers a great opportunity to discover some of Elgar's best compositions. For example, `The Dream of Gerontius' is considered one of the finest examples of English choral music, and it is interesting to revisit the Coronation Ode `Land of Hope and Glory' in its original scoring for choir and orchestra rather than the `Last Night of the Proms' adaptation (not that I am averse to that rendition of course!).

This set is a perfect companion to the other EMI Classics collection, `Elgar - Orchestral Works', and together they provide a very comprehensive representation of Elgar's music.

Just like its orchestral counterpart, this is an essential item for the Elgar fan.