Track Listing

1. God Is Gon Up, Op.27, No.2
2. Magnificat, Op.36
3. My Lovely One, Op.27, No.1
4. Welcome Sweet And Sacred Feast, Op.27, No.3
5. Thou Didst Delight My Eyes, Op.32
6. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, Op.35
7. I Praise The Tender Flower
8. I Have Loved The Flowers That Fade
9. My Spirit Sang All Day
10. Clear And Gentle Stream
11. Nightingales
12. Haste On, My Joys!
13. Wherefore Tonight So Full Of Care
14. Lo, The Full, Final Sacrifice, Op.26

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46115 in Music
• Released on: 2002-11-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 62 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Christopher Robinson and the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge together with organist Christopher Whitton continue their English choral-music series on the Naxos label with this recording, Finzi Choral Works. Previous discs have explored the sacred music of composers including Tavener, Britten and Howells. This latest release, however, focuses almost exclusively on secular pieces with settings of poems by Edward Taylor, Henry Vaughan and Robert Bridges.

The disc gets off to a good start with "God is gone up", where the choir's hearty and homogenous sound grabs the listener. The haunting "My lovely one" is a particular highlight but the two pieces for adult voices only are less satisfying. The Seven Unaccompanied Partsongs are largely well executed, although "My spirit sang all day" is rather pedestrian and could benefit from a little passion (well, Finzi did dedicate it to his wife!).

But the best is saved until last, namely the substantial "Lo, the full, final sacrifice" with its rousing final Amen--a glorious piece that here receives the splendid performance it warrants. This is a worthwhile buy for Finzi devotees and novices alike. --Rebecca Agnew

Customer Reviews

Surprise, surprise
They really shouldn't but they do. Once again, St John's have produced a near perfect disc of 20th century British music. This time, Gerald Finzi has been proffered the red carpet and taken it royally with both hands and legs. 'The Flower Songs' are a real treat, with the trebles outshining any soprano line you care to imagine. A long time in the edit suite, but worth it. Buy it this instant.

Lovely intimate recording
More beautiful English choral music from St John's; I think what characterises this disc and the other discs in this series is intimacy.