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ON EAGLES’ WINGS t Let the People Praise You [4.46] SACRED CHORAL WORKS BY ALEXANDER L’ESTRANGE y An Irish Blessing [3.56]

Total timings: [72.03]

1 Magnificat (New College Service) [6.53] 2 Nunc Dimittis (New College Service) [3.49] TENEBRAE Soloist: Nicholas Madden tenor NIGEL SHORT DIRECTOR 3 Lighten our Darkness (Prayers for Peace) [1.39] JAMES SHERLOCK ORGAN / PIANO 4 Let All the World in Every Corner Sing [5.53] www.signumrecords.com 5 The Lord’s Prayer (Prayers for Peace) [1.46] 6 Tune Me, O Lord [6.42] Soloists: Grace Davidson soprano, Emilia Morton soprano Nancy Cole alto, Jeremy Budd tenor “ … One gorgeous piece after another, in pristine, dew-fresh performances by the ever-wonderful 7 On Eagles’ Wings [4.50] Soloists: Joanna Forbes L’Estrange soprano, Katie Trethewey soprano choir Tenebrae. Alexander L’Estrange is a many-sided composer of prodigious gifts, and this is an album I will return to again and again; I recommend it warmly to all lovers of choral music.” 8 Oculi Omnium [2.51] John Rutter 9 My Song is Love Unknown [8.48] Soloists: Katie Trethewey soprano, Martha McLorinan alto Ben Alden tenor, Stephen Kennedy bass “It’s unusual and deeply gratifying to find a voice like Alexander L’Estrange’s. Both approachable and 0 God Be in My Head (Prayers for Peace) [1.59] therefore potentially highly popular and, at the same time, beautifully crafted and full of integrity. q Panis Angelicus [5.20] It’s the music of someone steeped in a great tradition since childhood and of someone who is Soloist: Amy Wood soprano determined to bring new life and creative vigour to what he so loves and understands. w Lute-book Lullaby [4.39] Variety is the spice of life and Alexander has spiced up our lives!” Soloist: Grace Davidson Simon Halsey e Epiphany Carol [5.03] Soloist: Joanna Forbes L’Estrange r Hodie! [3.18]

- 3 - COMPOSER’S NOTE indebted to the various choral directors, 3 Lighten our Darkness 5 The Lord’s Prayer educational establishments and cathedral choirs Composed for the christening of my son Toby William Forbes Composed for the christening of my son Harry Watson Forbes I was lucky enough to start my musical career who have commissioned these works over L’Estrange, 28 January 2007. L’Estrange, 30 November 2008. as a chorister in the choir of New College, the past fifteen years. Tenebrae’s world-class Oxford, where, under the direction of Dr Edward performances on this album, under the expert I used to love hearing this prayer at Evensong This short, mainly homophonic setting has a little Higginbottom, my love for English choral music guidance of Nigel Short, just blow me away. every night when I was a chorister in Oxford. piquancy and spice in its harmonic language, was fostered. At the same time I discovered Indeed, it must have been heard and enjoyed perhaps influenced by another favourite composer by countless generations at Evensong ever of mine when I was a chorister – Kenneth Leighton. a passion for improvising jazz on the piano Alexander L’Estrange, April 2016 and infamously once got into a fair amount of since the days of Cranmer’s first Book of 6 trouble for humming an added 9th in the final Common Prayer in 1549. What a privilege for me Tune Me, O Lord 1 2 to be able to set it to music, and to sing it at Commissioned by John Bowley for Repton School to commemorate chord of A Spotless Rose by Herbert Howells. - New College Service the 150th anniversary of the school chapel, June 2009. Whilst not being particularly proud of this Commissioned by Dr Edward Higginbottom for the choir of New our first son’s christening. boyhood moment I have used this very same College, Oxford, to mark his retirement as Organist and Choir Master, May 2014. 4 The inspiration for this piece came in the form chord in my New College Service, commissioned Let All the World in Every Corner Sing Commissioned by Iain Donald for Hampton School on the of opposing triads being “tuned into one by Dr Higginbottom some thirty years on, and I owe so much to my five years as a chorister occasion of their 450th anniversary celebration service in St harmony”. In the beginning the D & A triads in this time I think I got away with it! (1981-6) in the choir of New College, Oxford, Paul’s Cathedral, 2007. the upper voices over the G triad in the lower under the direction of Dr Edward Higginbottom, voices create dissonances which are finally On Eagles’ Wings is the culmination of over that I was delighted with this commission, to I love George Herbert’s poems, particularly resolved in A major. This A major section, based thirty years’ immersion in two of my greatest mark the great man’s retirement from the those also known as hymns or choral settings on the Latin Musica Dei donum words with a musical loves – cathedral music and jazz. The post. The melodic material is derived from (e.g. Howells’ King of Glory, King of Peace) and new melody, becomes the central part of an jazz element within the context of this church Dr Higginbottom’s dates as organist; 1976 in have always wanted to set Let all the world A-B-A form. repertoire is more about harmony and voicings the key of E major becomes E F# D# C#, followed (originally entitled Antiphon). The premiere in than it is about rhythm, although in the title by E B (Edward’s initials E.H.) followed by F# St Paul’s Cathedral featured the brass and track, the syncopated groove is all-important. D# E A for 2014. horns of the Hampton School big band, plus a percussion section to boot but it works This disc could not have been made without the equally well with organ accompaniment. immense generosity of my mother and stepfather, Alison and Michael Smedley, to whom I am extremely grateful for everything. I am also

- 4 - - 5 - 7 On Eagles’ Wings 8 Oculi Omnium of the piece. Ideally the quartet of soloists, w Lute-book Lullaby Commissioned by Alex Mason for the St Davids Cathedral Commissioned by Leslie East for the Associated Board of the who “comment” on the text in a Latin Commissioned by Nigel Short for Tenebrae in 2001 and recorded Festival in 2008 and first performed on 28 May 2008. Dedicated Royal Schools of Music in 2009 and first performed as a grace for translation/commentary by my friend Francis in its a cappella version on the CD Mother and Child (SIGCD501, to Andrew Speedy. their annual luncheon. released June 2003). Dedicated to my nephew Thomas Michael Garcia, should be placed at a distance William L’Estrange. from the main choir, as Tenebrae have done My inspiration for this, the title track of the I am grateful to Leslie East, who for many years for this recording, as if to create a kind of album, lay in the many references in the ran the ABRSM office choir and would often This piece will always be close to my heart as it ethereal Greek Chorus. Bible to eagles: strength being renewed like commission a composer to write a grace for was my first published anthem. The melody is the eagle’s, parents hovering under their young their annual knees-up at the Park Lane Hilton. derived from the octatonic scale (alternating 0 God Be in My Head as they learn to fly, and the idea of “soaring “Oculi Omnium” was the grace that was said at semitones and tones), which serves to evoke a Commissioned by Tom and Katie Bullard for their wedding day, 7 bitter-sweet sense of foreboding. The contrast like eagles”. The anthem first introduces dinner every day at Merton College Oxford, where April 2006. fragments of the main theme, sometimes in I was an undergraduate. of this with a warmer, diatonic “Lulla, lullaby” quasi-recitative style, perhaps evoking an The simple melodic formula here rises by a refrain helps to highlight the poignancy of eaglet’s early attempts to fly. When the melody 9 My Song is Love Unknown scale-degree every line, leading to a darker, richer a mother singing a lullaby to a baby whose eventually appears in its entirety it is both Commissioned by Nigel Short for Tenebrae in 2002 and dedicated final statement and a Howells-inspired cadence future would involve suffering. to Francis Garcia and Becky Hookway for their wedding, 27 powerful and uplifting; with a range of an with a double suspension in the upper voices. December 2007. First performed in its a cappella version at St e Epiphany Carol octave and a half, it reaches a climax with Luke’s, Chelsea, London, on 12 September 2002. With thanks to Specially composed for the St Paul’s Cathedral Carol Competition the words “I will soar on eagles’ wings”. The the John Ireland Trust for their permission to make reference to q Panis Angelicus in 2013 and first performed in the chapel of King’s College the composer’s Love unknown melody. counter-melody beginning “He has lifted me up” Commissioned by Spode Music Week to mark their 60th anniversary Cambridge in 2015. and the overall harmonic structure derive from in 2013. I have admired John Ireland’s hymn Love a jazz/big band composition from my student When it was suggested to me that I enter a piece unknown ever since I sang it as a boy, but it The melody and harmony of this upper-voices days; indeed, there were two versions of the for the St Paul’s Cathedral Carol Competition was in response to a beautiful interpretation by anthem have a warm, rich quality which owes world premiere at St Davids Cathedral in my wife, Joanna, composed this lovely poem the jazz saxophonist Ben Castle (son of the late something of a debt to an earlier song of mine, 2008 – one with choir and organ and another and its simple strophic structure and topical Sir Roy) that I chose this text. Fragments and Pack of three. This formed part of a one-woman with double bass and jazz piano, played by message inspired me to write the music. The phrases from Ireland’s melody are developed, musical I wrote with Michelle Magorian, Hello myself and renowned jazz musician Joe Stilgoe. piece is SATB non-divisi, making it ideal for re-harmonised and passed around the different life! and the song also features on my jazz Christmas and Epiphany services and concerts. voices. Further melodic material then arises album New Things to Say, sung by my wife from that jazz-influenced re-harmonisation, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. particularly the bass-line at the very start

- 6 - - 7 - r Hodie! y An Irish Blessing TEXTS & TRANSLATIONS Commissioned by Andrew Cleary for Portsmouth Grammar School Commissioned by Tessa Forbes for Rydes Hill School, Guildford, on and first performed 11 December 2010. the occasion of the school’s Diamond Jubilee in 2005. 1 Magnificat 2 Nunc Dimittis

Speaking to a number of cathedral and school The gentle, lilting melody for these much-loved My soul doth magnify the Lord Lord, now lettest thou thy servant choir directors, I found that there was a perceived words was composed by my wife, Joanna. My And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. depart in peace according to thy word. paucity of Christmas repertoire that was jolly, setting of it begins in unison and builds to a For he hath regarded For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, fast and uplifting. This jazzy 5/8 number has fuller choral texture, while an optional flute The lowliness of his handmaiden. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; already been performed and recorded by a part can add a folk-like quality. The piece works For behold, from henceforth To be a light to lighten the Gentiles number of choirs, including the BBC Singers, as well for weddings and leaving celebrations All generations shall call me blessed. and to be the glory of thy people Israel. who commissioned a special version with as it does in concert or for church services. For he that is mighty hath magnified me brass and percussion (available on request And holy is his name. Glory be to the Father and to the Son from Faber Music). © Alexander L’Estrange, 2016 And his mercy is on them that fear him And to the Holy Ghost. Throughout all generations. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, t Let the People Praise You He hath shewed strength with his arm, World without end. Amen. Commissioned by James Lowry for Felsted School on the occasion He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their 450th anniversary celebration service in St Paul’s of their hearts. Words: Book of Common Prayer, 1662 Cathedral, 20 March 2014. He hath put down the mighty from their seat And hath exalted the humble and meek. 3 Lighten our Darkness These words were suggested to me by Felsted He hath filled the hungry with good things School, and I decided to write a gently unfolding And the rich he hath sent empty away. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; melody that grows to a large central organ He remembering his mercy hath holpen And by thy great mercy defend us climax and then a big octatonic finish his servant Israel from all perils and dangers of this night; which would resound long and loud around As he promised to our forefathers, Abraham For the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, St Paul’s Cathedral. The piece received its and his seed for ever. Jesus Christ. Amen. second performance in front of Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Felsted School later that Glory be to the Father and to the Son Words: Thomas Cranmer, 3rd Collect for Evensong same year. And to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, World without end. Amen.

- 8 - - 9 - 4 Let All the World in Every Corner Sing 5 The Lord’s Prayer 6 Tune Me, O Lord

Let all the world in every corner sing, Our Father, who art in heaven: Tune me, O Lord, into one harmony, my God and king! Hallowed be thy name. One harmony with Thee, The heavens are not too high, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done One full responsive vibrant chord. His praise may thither fly, On Earth as it is in heaven. Unto thy praise, all love and melody, O Lord, The earth is not too low, Give us this day our daily bread, Tune me, O Lord. His praises there may grow. And forgive us our trespasses, Let all the world in every corner sing, As we forgive those who trespass against us. Musica Dei donum optimi Music, the gift of the supreme God, my God and king! And lead us not into temptation, Trahit homines, trahit deos. draws men, draws gods; But deliver us from evil. Musica truces mollit animos Music makes savage souls gentle Let all the world in every corner sing, For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, Tristesque mentes erigit, and uplifts sad minds. my God and king! For ever and ever. Amen. Musica vel ipsas arbores Music moves the very trees The church with psalms must shout, Et horridas movet feras and wild beasts. no door can keep them out; Words: The Lord’s Prayer Musica Dei donum optimi Music, the gift of the supreme God, But, above all, the heart Trahit homines, trahit deos. draws men, draws gods; must bear the longest part. Words: Tune me, O Lord by Christina Rossetti incorporating Let all the world in every corner sing, 16th-century anon. Musica Dei Donum my God and king!

Words: George Herbert, The Temple, 1633

- 10 - - 11 - 7 On Eagles’ Wings 9 My Song is Love Unknown Then “Crucify!” is all their breath, And for His death they thirst and cry. Like an eagle that hovers o’er its young, He has lifted me up out of the mirey clay, My song is love unknown, That spreads its wings to catch them, He has put a new song in my mouth, Gratiam cano latentem, Why, what hath my Lord done? And bears them on its outstretched span. A hymn of praise to our God. My Saviour’s love to me; What makes this rage and spite? Mei gratiam Salvatoris, He made the lame to run, The angel of his presence saved me, I will soar on wings like eagles’ wings, Love to the loveless shown, He gave the blind their sight, In his love and mercy he redeemed me. I will run and not grow weary, Gratiam patentem ingratis Sweet injuries! Yet they at these He lifted me up and bore me all the days of old. I will walk and not be faint That they might lovely be. Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise. I will soar on eagles’ wings. qua in gratos vertantur: They rise and needs will have I will soar on wings like eagles’ wings, O who am I, Words: Deuteronomy, Isaiah & Psalm 40, compiled by My dear Lord made away; I will run and not grow weary, At ego quisnam? Andrew Speedy A murderer they save, I will walk and not be faint That for my sake The Prince of life they slay, I will soar on eagles’ wings. Gratia cui Carnem Yet cheerful He to suffering goes, My Lord should take Mala amplectitur. Dominus meus infirmam That He His foes from thence might free. Frail flesh and die? 8 Oculi Omnium Quo inde absolvantur inimici. Indutus moriatur? Oculi omnium in te respiciunt, Domine. The eyes of the world look up to thee, O Lord. Here might I stay and sing, He came from His blest throne Tu das escam illis tempore opportuno. Thou givest them food in due season. Hic velim canes constare, Salvation to bestow; Aperis manum tuam, Thou openest thy hand and fillest No story so divine; But men made strange, and none Et imples omne animal benedictione tua. every creature with thy blessing. Numquam tanta res divina, The longed-for Christ would know: Benedicas nobis, Deus, omnibus donis Thou blessest us, O God, with all the gifts Never was love, dear King! But O! my Friend, My Friend indeed, Quae de tua beneficentia accepturi simus. which by thy good works we are about to receive. Nec, care Rex, amor umquam, Who at my need His life did spend. Per Jesum Christum dominum nostrum. Amen. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. Never was grief like Thine. Sometimes they strew His way, Nec dolor tantus fuit. Words: Anon. including Psalm 144: 15 And His sweet praises sing; This is my Friend, Resounding all the day Ecce amicus, Hosannas to their King: in Whose sweet praise

- 12 - - 13 - cuius laudes Dulce fundens 0 God Be in My Head w Lute-book Lullaby e Epiphany Carol I all my days atque amice God be in my head, and in my understanding; Sweet was the song the Virgin sang, Is it gold that you bring? could gladly spend. God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; When she to Bethlem Judah came, Is that your present for the King? totam degerem. God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; And was delivered of a Son, Is that your special offering? God be in my heart, and in my thinking; That blessed Jesus hath to name. But far more precious than the gold, Words: Samuel Crossman, 1664, adap. Latin translation by Francis Garcia, 2002 God be at mine end, and at my departing. Lulla, lulla, lullaby. So often have we heard it told, Is our beloved bluegreen world. Words: Sarum Primer, 1558 Sweet Babe, sang she, Oh bring me a present for the future. My Son, and eke a Saviour born, q Panis Angelicus Who hast vouchsafed from on high Is it frankincense you bring? To visit us that were forlorn; Is that your present for the King? Panis angelicus May the Bread of Angels Lulla, lulla, lullaby. Is that your special offering? fit panis hominum; Become bread for mankind; However fair the frankincense, Dat panis cœlicus The Bread of Heaven puts Sweet babe, sang she, Its perfume warming to our sense, figuris terminum: All foreshadowings to an end; And rocked Him sweetly on her knee. Our planet’s need remains immense. O res mirabilis! Oh, thing miraculous! Oh bring me a present for the future. Manducat Dominum This body of God will nourish Words: William Ballet’s Lute Book in Library of Trin. Coll., Dublin about A.D. 1600 Pauper, servus et humilis. the poor, the servile, and the humble. Is it myrrh that you bring? Is that your present for the King? Te trina Deitas Thee God, Three Is that your special offering? unaque poscimus: And One, we beseech; If only could those drops of myrrh, Sic nos tu visita, Do us Thou visit, A sense of longing in us stir, sicut te colimus; As Thee we worship. To make Earth’s blessings as they were. Per tuas semitas By Thy ways duc nos quo tendimus, lead us where we are heading, Oh bring me a present for the future, Ad lucem quam inhabitas. to the light Thou inhabitest. A present for our future. Amen. Amen. Words: ‘A present for the future’ by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange

Words: from Sacris solemniis by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi

- 14 - - 15 - r Hodie! ALEXANDER L’ESTRANGE composers. L’Estrange is a passionate advocate for the importance of singing in schools and Hodie Christus natus est, Alleluia, Today Christ was born, Alleluia, “If you had to create from scratch the perfect the wider community and, to this end, has Salvator apparuit, Alleluia, A saviour has appeared, Alleluia, 21st-century musician, Alexander L’Estrange composed a series of large-scale choral pieces Hodie in terra canunt angeli, Today the angels sing on earth, would be your template.” Howard Goodall CBE with jazz quintet, all of which are published Laetantur archangeli, Alleluia, The archangels rejoice, Alleluia, by Faber Music. Hodie exultant justi, dicentes: Today the righteous rejoice, saying: Alexander L’Estrange (b.1974) is a British choral Gloria in excelsis Deo, Alleluia! Glory be to God on high, Alleluia! composer and arranger whose consummate As a chorister at New College, Oxford, under musicianship and stylistic versatility have led to the direction of Dr Edward Higginbottom, Words: Traditional regular commissions from choirs and a cappella L’Estrange recorded and performed many solos groups across the globe. His flagship work, and went on to read Music at Merton College, Zimbe! Come sing the songs of Africa!, an singing countertenor in the choir of Magdalen ingenious 40-minute fusion of African song College under the direction of former member t Let the People Praise You y An Irish Blessing and jazz, received 150 performances worldwide of The King’s Singers, Bill (Grayston) Ives within its first five years, something of a record and graduating with a First Class Honours May God be gracious to us May the road rise to meet you, for a new choral work, establishing him as degree. His sacred repertoire, whilst steeped And bless us and make his face to shine upon us, May the wind be always at your back, one of Britain’s most popular living choral in the English cathedral choral tradition, has That your way may be known upon Earth, May the sun shine warm upon your face, Your saving power among all nations. The rain fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, Let the people praise you, O God. May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Let all the people, O let all the people, Words: Traditional Gaelic blessing O God let all the people praise you.

Words: Psalm 67: 1-3 © Susan Porter Thomas Photography

- 16 - - 17 - subtle allusions to the harmonies and Songbook. As Consultant Editor of Faber Music’s sonorities of jazz, a combination which popular Choral Basics series, L’Estrange has characterises L’Estrange’s voice as a composer. also written hundreds of arrangements of The publication of his stunning Christmas songs from across the musical spectrum. anthem Lute-book Lullaby, commissioned by Tenebrae, resulted in a plethora of Aside from writing, Alexander L’Estrange is commissions from festivals, schools and a highly accomplished jazz double bass cathedral choirs, much of which is recorded player and pianist, choral workshop leader, on this disc. adjudicator, presenter of children’s concerts and jazz examiner/trainer for the ABRSM. L’Estrange’s output as a songwriter includes He presents his music with an infectious three stunning settings of poems by Shelley, mixture of energy, humour and expertise that Tennyson and Byron, entitled Love’s Philosophy, has become synonymous with his name. He currently on the ABRSM Singing Syllabus. is married to the soprano and jazz vocalist He writes arrangements for the world’s leading Joanna Forbes L’Estrange with whom he has a cappella groups including The Swingle two very musical sons, Toby and Harry. © Chris O’Donovan Singers, Voces8 and The King’s Singers, for whom he wrote and produced the For sheet music, digital downloads and CDs, Described as “phenomenal” (The Times) The choir’s recording of Fauré’s Requiem highly-acclaimed album Great American visit alexanderlestrangeshop.com and “devastatingly beautiful” (Gramophone with the London Symphony Orchestra was Magazine), award-winning choir Tenebrae, under nominated for the Gramophone Awards (2013), the direction of Nigel Short, is one of the having been described as “the very best TENEBRAE world’s finest vocal ensembles renowned for Fauré Requiem on disc”, so too was Mother its passion and precision. and Child (2003) for Choral Disc of the Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Year featuring sacred music by living Grace Davidson Nancy Cole Ben Alden Geoff Clapham As the first-ever ensemble to be multi-nominated British composers. Tenebrae’s ever-increasing Joanna Forbes L’Estrange Hannah Cooke Ruari Bowen Nicholas Garrett in the same category for the BBC Music discography has brought about collaborations Katy Hill Amy Lyddon Jeremy Budd Stephen Kennedy Magazine Awards (2012), Tenebrae’s recording with Signum, Decca Classics, Deutsche Emilia Morton Martha McLorinan Hugo Hymas Andrew Mahon of Victoria’s Requiem Mass, 1605 secured Grammophon, EMI Classics, LSO Live and Katie Trethewey Nicholas Madden Richard Savage the accolade for Best Choral Performance. Warner Classics, with the choir’s recording of Amy Wood Greg Skidmore

- 18 - - 19 - Russian Orthodox music being launched on its ‘Passion and Precision’ is Tenebrae’s motto, Orchestra and the Scottish Ensemble. He has own label, Bene Arte, receiving glowing reviews and through its continued dedication to directed the London Symphony Orchestra with and reaching number 1 in the UK Specialist performance of the highest quality, audiences Tenebrae in a live recording of Fauré’s Requiem, Classical Chart. around the world experience the power and which was nominated for the Gramophone intimacy of the human voice. Awards (2013). Since then, he has conducted Tenebrae is dedicated to championing contemporary the orchestra alongside Tenebrae for a sold-out composers, having worked with Judith Bingham, NIGEL SHORT performance in St. Paul’s Cathedral as part Ola Gjeilo, Alexander L’Estrange, Alexander of the City of London Festival. Other orchestral Levine, Paul Mealor, Joby Talbot, Hilary Tann, Award-winning conductor Nigel Short has built recordings include Mozart’s Requiem and Ave Sir John Tavener and Will Todd. The choir is up an enviable reputation for his concert and Verum Corpus with the Chamber Orchestra renowned for its highly acclaimed interpretations recording work with leading orchestras and of Europe and two discs of music by Will Todd of choral music with repertoire ranging from ensembles across the world. with the English Chamber Orchestra. the hauntingly passionate works of the Renaissance through to contemporary choral A singer of great acclaim, Nigel was a member Nigel has vast recording experience having masterpieces. Tenebrae’s recent release of of the world-renowned vocal ensemble The conducted recordings for many of the world’s Brahms and Bruckner motets, in benefit of King’s Singers from 1994–2000. Upon leaving major record labels including Decca Classics, Macmillan Cancer Support, was nominated for the group, he formed Tenebrae, a virtuosic choir Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics, LSO Live, a BBC Music Magazine award. that embraced his dedication to passion Signum and Warner Classics. As a Gramophone and precision. Under his direction, Tenebrae award-winning producer, Nigel works with many Tenebrae has appeared at some of the world’s has enjoyed collaborations with orchestras and of the UK’s leading professional choirs and most prestigious festivals including the BBC instrumentalists of various musical genres vocal ensembles including Alamire, Ex Cathedra, Proms, City of London Festival, Edinburgh and now enjoys a reputation as one of the Gallicantus and The King’s Singers. International Festival, Three Choirs Festival world’s finest choral ensembles. and Montreux Choral Festival (Switzerland). Alongside concert performances, the choir To date, Nigel has conducted the Aurora presents its new inspirational workshop method, Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, ‘The Tenebrae Effect’, designed to challenge English Chamber Orchestra, English Concert, and advance every participant by instilling London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the skills essential to a Tenebrae performance. Age of Enlightenment, Royal Philharmonic © Chris O’Donovan

- 20 - - 21 - JAMES SHERLOCK

James Sherlock performs widely as an organist, pianist and conductor. He was organ scholar at Trinity College Cambridge, and continued his keyboard and conducting studies at the Alexander would like to thank his mother and step father, Alison and Michael Smedley, for Guildhall School of Music with Ronan O’Hora, making this recording possible by their kind generosity; his wife and muse Joanna Forbes Joan Havill and Pamela Lidiard. L’Estrange for seeing the album through from conception to completion, not to mention singing beautifully on it; his publishers at Faber Music for providing the sheet music for the He works regularly with major orchestras and recording sessions; Nigel Short and Tenebrae for their outstanding musicianship and for choirs in the UK, appearing on several award- commissioning Lute-book Lullaby all those years ago, setting him on his way as a composer. winning records with Tenebrae, alongside solo appearances with the London Philharmonic and English Chamber Orchestras. As a chamber Recorded in St Jude’s Church, Hampstead, London, UK from 15-17 April 2015. musician he works with Dame Felicity Lott, Producer and Editor – Nicholas Parker Angelika Kirchschlager and Benjamin Appl, Recording Engineer – Andrew Mellor appearing at major chamber festivals including Cover Image – Shutterstock the Schubertiade Hohenems, Wigmore and Design and Artwork – Woven Design www.wovendesign.co.uk

Increasingly active as a conductor, James is a Artists and Gold Medallist at the Marcello Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, member of the International Artists Academy Galanti International Organ Competition. He is a or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd. of the Berlin Philharmonic and London Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. Symphony Orchestras. He is a winner of the a Samling Artist and Director of Music at +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] Royal Overseas League Piano Competition Hampstead Parish Church. www.signumrecords.com and the ROSL award for accompanists, Das Lied International Song Competition, the BBC Performing Arts Trust, Award for Young Concert

- 22 - - 23 - ALSO AVAILABLE on signumclassics

Great American Songbook Will Todd: Lux et Veritas The King’s Singers Music for Peace and Reflection SIGCD341 Tenebrae Nigel Short “... Alexander L’Estrange’s delicious arrangements go naughtily SIGCD394 off-piste, most bizarrely in a mash-up of Cheek to Cheek and Fauré’s Requiem.” “One of this year’s finest releases” The Times Classic FM

Available through most record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000

- 20 - CTP Template: CD_INL1 COLOURS Compact Disc Back Inlay CYAN MAGENTA Customer SignumClassics YELLOW Catalogue No. SIGCD454 BLACK Job Title: On Eagles’ Wings

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD454 ON EAGLES’ WINGS SACRED CHORAL WORKS BY ALEXANDER L’ESTRANGE

1 Magniﬁcat (New College Service) [6.53]

2 Nunc Dimittis (New College Service) [3.39] WINGS EAGLES’ ON L’ESTRANGE: 3 Lighten our Darkness (Prayers for Peace) [1.39] 4 Let All the World in Every Corner Sing [5.53] 5 The Lord’s Prayer (Prayers for Peace) [1.46] 6 Tune Me, O Lord [6.42] 7 On Eagles’ Wings [4.50]

TENEBRAE / SHORT 8 Oculi Omnium [2.51] 9 My Song is Love Unknown [8.48] 0 God Be in My Head (Prayers for Peace) [1.59] q Panis Angelicus [5.20] w Lute-book Lullaby [4.39] SHORT / TENEBRAE e Epiphany Carol [5.03] r Hodie! [3.18] t Let the People Praise You [4.46] y An Irish Blessing [3.56]

Total timings: [72.03] L’ESTRANGE: ON EAGLES’ WINGS

TENEBRAE NIGEL SHORT DIRECTOR

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