David Briggs (b. 1962) • Jeremy Filsell (b. 1964) He had acquired Burford Priory in 1586 but became Again, the organ part is granted the lionʼs share of known for his harsh treatment of tenants on the land. colourful interjection and the pieceʼs first performance Choral Music Petitions brought against him reputedly moved his second profited from the great skill of Scott Dettra at the National The concept behind this recording was to bring together own singers and colleagues, where liturgical offerings wife to “play the devil” among the villagers of Great Tew, Cathedral organ. two of the finest British organist/ to showcase have proved apt for the fabric, traditions and musical style and to “grind them to powder”: Nice lady. Tanfield died in The writing of my Te Deum and Jubilate (2001) was a not only the sheer brilliance of their playing, but also the of respective establishments. Notable, however, is that 1625, and instructions in his will were to dispose of his response to a request – admittedly a light-hearted breadth and depth of their creativity as experienced choral fate often deals unkindly with music of this nature – indeed worldly goods “whereof God has bestowed upon me a throwing-down-of-the-gauntlet – by the inspirational composers. Both Jeremy Filsell (with whom we have been much of the copious Victorian fare of this kind is now justly plentiful heart”. On his grand tomb, erected in Burford Jonathan Rees-Williams, then Director of Music, for more delighted and privileged to work on many occasions in the – or unjustly, depending on the tint of oneʼs spectacles – church, his widow left this poignant epitaph. The loving ʻhome-grownʼ material. Given the demand for morning past) and David Briggs (this was our first collaboration, but neglected. intimacy of her timeless words are offered here in a canticles at Windsor, the idea of writing some seemed apt. not the last, I hope) now work abroad (Jeremy in My music has been written for, amongst others, Holy harmonically static but prayerful setting for a cappella Being directly conscious of the connections to monarchy, Washington, David in Toronto), but both are internationally Trinity Coventry, Ely Cathedral, Washington National double choir. ceremony and the courtly traditions upheld at Windsor, I renowned recitalists, much in demand. We were thrilled Cathedral and the various London churches I have The anthem for choir and organ, If God build not the failed to banish from my mind William Waltonʼs glorious therefore that both were able to join Vasari to accompany served, but for over ten years I was privileged to be house, dates from 2006 and was a commission by Andrew Coronation Te Deum, and my own setting thus attempts to their respective pieces and to give us invaluable insight associated with St Georgeʼs Chapel, Windsor Castle, a Carter to mark the 40th anniversary of St Georgeʼs House, recreate its spirit. There are motivic references which will into the three works we commissioned from them time from which much of the music on this recording the Conference Centre within the walls of Windsor Castle. be obvious to those aware of the ʻparentʼ work; the especially for this recording, as well as their other existing dates. The dedication is also to Timothy Byram-Wigfield (Director objective here, however, was primarily to set the works. The recording weekend was full of excitement and Within the Anglican/Episcopal church, the morning of Music 2004–2013) and the choir of St Georgeʼs Chapel, (somewhat lengthy) text as concisely as possible. Brief creative frisson and I hope the listener will pick up on the canticle settings are amongst the musical losses who first performed the work during Evensong on 5th reference is made at one point to Herbert Howellsʼ musical magic that these collaborations generated. consequent to the churchʼs abandoning of sung morning June 2006. The anthemʼs principal text is drawn from the beautiful Windsor Benedictus setting (the morning canticle prayer in favour of sacramental Eucharistic worship week words of Phineas Fletcher (1582–1650) whilst the central traditionally replacing the Te Deum during penitential Jeremy Backhouse by week. I grew up as a chorister singing both Matins and section takes verses from Psalm 25 (verses 4 and 5). time). The height of this musicʼs prominence came when, Eucharist on a Sunday morning; a liturgical sequence now Often rhythmically quirky and metrically unsettled, the humblingly, it was chosen to be sung before the Queen, Note by Jeremy Filsell largely extinct. At St Georgeʼs Chapel, however, the piece features a virtuoso organ part, expertly handled in Royal Family and various Knights of the Realm at the I am privileged to have my music paired on this disc with primary worship on a Sunday remains that of Morning the first performance by the brilliant young 18-year-old Garter Day service in 2002. The companion setting of the that of David Briggs, one whose musicianship I have Prayer (for which it may be unique). Windsor at the time, Peter Stevens. Jubilate aimed for brevity, and it was my good friend and admired and revered since our schoolboy years in the Two pieces form the Vasari commission (2012) for The Windsor Evening Canticles Magnificat and Nunc colleague Nigel Short who pointed out the thematic English Midlands. That our career paths have criss- this disc. The true genesis of the first, Tomorrow shall be Dimittis (2001), complete a sense of book-ends with the references (subliminally assumed) to Graham Whettamʼs crossed over the years has been a source of great delight my dancing day, owes much to a good friend in morning set, and the Gloria Patri music shares material thrilling Coventry Service Magnificat. and inspiration, and that they do so again under these Washington who often sang, in idle moments, the chorus first heard in the Jubilate (the final perorations recalling a current circumstances is wonderfully fortuitous. phrases of this well-known carol – a kind of personal motif – and indeed a final chord – in deliberate homage to Note by David Briggs My own choral works unashamedly reflect utility leitmotif. In one of these idle moments, a new motif of the evening canticles which ought to be staple fare in most It is an honour to share this recording with my colleague above any artful search for fresh expressive musical refrain came to mind, and I wondered whether there might cathedrals: Sebastian Forbesʼs Aedis Christi). and friend for more than 35 years, Jeremy Filsell. We both utterance. As such, I am aware that they reflect more be something new and vibrant to be done with this ʻoldeʼ The Transfiguration (2011) was written for Cathedral grew up in the West Midlands and were both nurtured and closely the stylistic language of music that has touched text. Voices, the volunteer choir at Washington National inspired by the wonderful organ in Coventry Cathedral, and influenced me than form any innovative musical The touching text of the second, Epitaph (Here Cathedral that I was privileged to direct at the time. perhaps the finest instrument ever built by Harrison and language. Throughout my career, I have been involved in shadow lie), was discovered on the majestic Tanfield tomb Finding appropriate repertoire for this liturgical feast Harrison. We participated in competitions together, one capacity or another with the world of church music within Burford church in the heart of the English having proved difficult, in time-honoured fashion, I wrote performed in organ festivals (including at Lahti, Finland, and my choral works thus embody the ʻchurch musician at Cotswolds. Born in 1554, the Eton-educated Lord (Sir something myself. The texts were taken from the gospels where, if memory serves me correctly, we both performed workʼ. They are, I suspect, rooted in the long-standing Lawrence) Tanfield was an ambitious lawyer who rose to of Mark and John, the music aiming to reflect the on an Allen Computer organ on a pontoon in the middle of tradition of organists and/or choir directors writing for their become Chief Baron of the Exchequer to James I in 1607. allegorical themes of light and spiritual metamorphosis. a lake). We both spent many, many hours in the reconstruction of many of the greatest improvisations of opening words of the last two stanzas of Pange lingua). Jeremy Filsell , the Organist at Notre-Dame de Paris The Messe pour Saint-Sulpice was written in 2011 (1955–84), and both ended up living in North America, and was jointly commissioned by the choirs of All Saintsʼ Jeremy Filsell is acknowledged as one of only a few virtuoso performers on both pursuing our separate liturgical and concert careers. I Parish Church, Northampton (Lee Dunleavy, Director of and organ. He has appeared as a solo pianist in Russia, Scandinavia, the United have a huge admiration for Jeremyʼs innate musicianship, Music) and the Cathedral of the Redeemer, Calgary, States and throughout the United Kingdom; his repertoire encompasses and this recording also serves to demonstrate his Alberta (The Very Reverend Leighton Lee, Dean, and Mozart and Beethoven through to Shostakovich, John Ireland and the Rachmaninov considerable prowess as a . Timothy Pyper, Director of Music). Scored for Grand . He has recorded the solo piano music of Herbert Howells, Bernard Stevens, I have often had conversations with composers about Orgue, Orgue de Choeur and Choir SATB, this music is Eugene Goossens, Johann Eschmann and Rachmaninov, and has broadcast on BBC work ethic and the speed and psychology of the creative inspired by the huge acoustic of St Sulpice, Paris, where Radio 3, and American and Scandinavian radio networks in solo and concerto rôles. process. Since I began composing in 1990 (at the the Northampton Choir gave the first performance in July His discography comprises more than 25 solo recordings for a variety of labels as both relatively late age of 28), I have always worked fast and 2011. The Grand Orgue is one of the most supreme pianist and organist. He has taught at universities, summer schools and conventions in rather impulsively, for better or worse. I have always loved instruments to be built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll and dates both Britain and the United States, and recent recital engagements have taken him to improvise and this undoubtedly impacts my creative from 1862. On this recording, the magnificent Marcussen across America and the United Kingdom, and to Germany, France, Finland and urge when it comes to composition. I was delighted to be organ of Tonbridge School takes its place – deliciously Norway. commissioned to write a new Pange lingua for Vasari suave, Swedish and refined, but here with a believable Jeremy Filsell studied as an organ scholar at Oxford University before completing Singers and most of this piece was written at 38,000ft on French accent, saturated in not a little garlic. Despite the graduate studies in piano performance at the in London. He an American Airlines Boeing 767, en route from London to original conception for two organs, the Mass can very was awarded his Ph.D. at Birmingham Conservatoire/BCU. He held lectureships at the in Boston, in September 2012. The piece sets out to portray easily be performed with one organ and choir. This is London and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and was an alto in the Queenʼs choir at in musical terms the wonder of the sacrament of Holy intentionally ʻbig-building musicʼ, with an emphasis on the St Georgeʼs Chapel, Windsor Castle, before moving to the United States in 2008. He currently combines international Communion, where Christʼs flesh and blood become dramatic effect and the grandiose (introduction to the performing and teaching activities with being Artist-in-Residence at Washington National Cathedral, Director of Music available to all believers. It is for others to analyse and Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus etc). Here, however, are also at the Church of the Epiphany in downtown D.C., and Professor of Organ at the Catholic University of America. comment, but I would say that this piece is one of my moments of quiet, emotional profundity (Agnus Dei) and favourite creations, especially when sung, a cappella, with intimate serenity (Benedictus qui venit). I feel very www.jeremyfilsell.com such refinement and expertise as shown by Vasari fortunate indeed to have had my music recorded by the Singers. My organ improvisation on Tantum ergo followed fabulous Vasari Singers, under the inspired direction of naturally from this commission (Tantum ergo being the their founder and Music Director, Jeremy Backhouse. David Briggs

David Briggs is an internationally renowned organist whose performances are Vasari Singers gratefully acknowledges the support of the BBC Performing Arts Fund and the acclaimed for their musicality, virtuosity and ability to excite and engage audiences of RVW Trust in commissioning new works from David Briggs and Jeremy Filsell and this recording. all ages. With an extensive repertoire spanning five centuries, he is famous for his brilliant organ transcriptions of symphonic music by composers such as Mahler, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Bruckner, Ravel and Bach. He also frequently performs improvisations to silent films such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and a variety of Charlie Chaplin films. At the relatively early age of seventeen, David Briggs became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, winning all the prizes and the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. From 1981 to 1984 he was the Organ Scholar at Kingʼs College, Cambridge, during which time he studied organ with Jean Langlais in Paris. Subsequently he held positions at Hereford, Truro and Gloucester Cathedrals. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at St Jamesʼ Cathedral, Toronto and also Organist Emeritus of Gloucester Cathedral. David Briggsʼs schedule includes more than sixty concerts a year, spanning several continents. He enjoys giving Jeremy Backhouse pre-concert lectures designed to make organ music more accessible to audiences. In addition, he teaches at Cambridge, frequently serves on international organ competition juries, and gives master-classes at colleges and Jeremy Backhouse is one of Britainʼs leading conductors of amateur choirs. He began conservatories across the United States and Europe. He is also a prolific composer and his works range from full-scale his musical career in Canterbury Cathedral where he was Senior Chorister. He has been oratorios to works for solo instruments. He has recorded a DVD and thirty CDs, many of which include his own the sole conductor of Vasari Singers since its inception in 1980 and is totally committed compositions and transcriptions. to contemporary music and to the commissioning of new works: he and Vasari have commissioned over twenty works in their recent history, from small anthems to works www.david-briggs.org on the grandest scale. In 1995 Backhouse was appointed Chorus Master of the Guild- ford Philharmonic Choir. After the choir went independent and became the Vivace Cho- rus in 2005, he became its Music Director, and in May 2011 conducted a performance Vasari Singers of Mahlerʼs Symphony of a Thousand in front of a capacity audience at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2009 he was appointed Music Director Founded over thirty years ago under Jeremy Backhouse, Vasari Singers is among the leading chamber choirs in Britain, of the Salisbury Community Choir, a 180-strong non-auditioned choir. He has also guest performing music ranging from Renaissance to contemporary. The choir performs regularly in London as well as visiting conducted the BBC Singers, the Brighton Festival Chorus, the Philharmonia Chorus, many of Englandʼs cathedrals to sing services, with recent trips to Canterbury, Durham, Salisbury, Bath and Ripon. In the London Chorus and many other leading British adult and youth choirs. 2012 Vasari Singers opened the London A Cappella Festival at Kingʼs Place, performing alongside members of the Swingle Singers. In December the choir took part in the British Composer Awards Tenth Anniversary concert in the Photograph: Sim Cannetty-Clarke Purcell Room. www.jeremybackhouse.com Vasariʼs extensive discography reflects the choirʼs versatility and quality, and showcases its unique choral sound, whether singing a cappella or accompanied. Two CDs of works by Marcel Dupré received Gramophoneʼs Editorʼs Choice award. The CD of Howellsʼs Requiem and Frank Martinʼs Mass was nominated for a Gramophone Award, and the 2007 disc Noel Nouvelet was MusicWeb Internationalʼs Recording of the Month. The choirʼs most recent CDs, Gabriel Jacksonʼs Requiem and A Winterʼs Light (a Christmas collection) were released in autumn 2012 on the Naxos label; both reached the top ten of the Classical Music Charts.

Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Nicola Balzan Elizabeth Atkinson Daniel Burges Matthew Bernstein Katie Fry Alison Benton Roger Carpenter Malcolm Field Lizzie Isherwood Alex Brougham Giles Gabriel John Hunt Catherine Jackson Myriam Burr David Jackson Keith Long Elizabeth Limb Stephanie May Chris Paterson Paul Robertson Caroline Osborne-White Sarah Mistry Jonathan Scott Nick Wakelin Alysha Paterson Julia Ridout Matthew Wood Julia Smith Jess Stansfield Susan Waton www.vasarisingers.org

Vasari Singers Photograph: Ash Mills 1 Tomorrow shall be my dancing day Whom I loved best; 4 Magnificat (Windsor Service) 6 The Transfiguration Trad. English Thrice happie shee My soul doth magnify the Lord from the Gospels of Mark and John With him to rest. and my spirit hath rejoicʼd in God my Saviour. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, So shall I be For He hath regarded the lowliness The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; I would my true love did so chance With him I loved, of His handmaiden. We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten to see the legend of my play, And hee with mee For behold from henceforth all generations of the Father, full of grace and truth. To call my true love to my dance, love to my dance, And both us blessed. shall call me blessed. my dance, my dance. Love made me poet For He that is mighty hath magnified me And after six days Jesus took Peter, Sing O my love, And this I writt; and holy is His Name. James and John his brother, Sing O my love, my love, my love, My hearte did doe it And His mercy is on them that fear Him And brought them up into a high mountain, This have I done for my true love. And not my witt. throughout all generations. And there He was transfigured before them: He hath shewed strength with His arm. His face did shine as the sun, Then was I born of a Virgin pure, 3 If God build not the house He hath scattered the proud in the imagination and his raiment was white as the light. Of her I took fleshly substance, Phineas Fletcher (1582–1650) from Psalm 127 of their hearts. Thus was I knit to manʼs nature, vv 1-2, and Psalm 25 vv 4-5 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; To call my true love to my dance, love to my dance, and hath exalted the humble and meek. We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten my dance, my dance. If God build not the house and lay He hath filled the hungry with good things, of the Father, full of grace and truth. Sing O my love, The groundwork so sure – whoever build, and the rich He hath sent empty away. Sing O my love, my love, my love, It cannot stand one stormy day. He remembʼring His mercy hath holpen His servant 7 Te Deum (Windsor Service) This have I done for my true love. If God be not the cityʼs shield, Israel, as He promised to our forefathers, We praise Thee, O God: If he be not their bars and wall, Abraham and his seed for ever. we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. In a manger laid and wrapped I was, In vain the watch-tower, men and all. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, All the earth doth worship Thee, So very poor this was my chance, and to the Holy Ghost; the Father everlasting. betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, Though then thou wakʼst when others rest, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, To Thee all Angels cry aloud: To call my true love to my dance, to my dance, Though rising thou preventʼst the sun. world without end. Amen. the Heavens and all the powers therein. to my dance, my dance. To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Sing O my love, Shew me thy ways O Lord 5 Nunc Dimittis (Windsor Service) Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth; Sing O my love, my love, my love, And teach me thy paths. Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace, Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy Glory. This have I done for my true love. Though with lean care thou daily feast, according to Thy word. The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee. Lead me forth in thy truth and teach me: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, The godly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee. Then afterwards baptized I was, For thou art the God of my salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face The noble army of Martyrs praise Thee. The Holy Ghost on me did chance, In thee hath been my hope all the day long: of all people; The holy Church throughout all the world My Fatherʼs voice heard from above, Thy labourʼs lost and thou undone; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles doth acknowledge Thee; To call my true love to my dance. and to be the glory of Thy people Israel. The Father of an infinite Majesty; If God build not the house and lay Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, Thine honourable, true, and only Son; 2 Epitaph The ground-work so sure – whoever build, and to the Holy Ghost; Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter. Here shadow lie It cannot stand one stormy day. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Whilʼst life is sadd If God be not the cityʼs shield. world without end. Amen. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. Still hope to die When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man: To him she hadd. But God his child will feed and keep, Thou didst not abhor the Virginʼs womb. In blisse is hee And draw the curtain to his sleep. When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven 9 Pange lingua gloriosi From them each eternally, Glory be to God in the highest. to all believers. St Thomas Aquinas (ca 1225–1274) Be salvation, honour, blessing, And in earth peace Thou sittest at the right hand of God Might and endless majesty. Amen. to men of good will. in the glory of the Father. Pange lingua gloriosi We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. Corporis mysterium, Messe pour Saint-Sulpice We praise Thee; we bless Thee; We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants Sanguinisque pretiosi, we worship Thee; we glorify Thee. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood. Quem in mundi pretium ! Kyrie eleison. We give thanks to Thee Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints Fructus ventris generosi, Christe eleison. for Thy great glory. in glory everlasting. Rex effudit gentium. Kyrie eleison. O Lord, save Thy people: and bless Thine heritage. O Lord God, Heavenly King, Govern them and lift them up for ever. Tantum ergo Sacramentum Lord, have mercy. God the Father Almighty. Day by day we magnify Thee; and we worship Veneremur cernui: Christ, have mercy. O Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. Thy Name, ever world without end. Et antiquum documentum Lord, have mercy. Lord God, Lamb of God, Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. Novo cedat ritui: Son of the Father. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Praestet fides supplementum @ Gloria in excelsis Deo. O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us: Sensuum defectui. Et in terra pax Thou that takest away the sins of the world, as our trust is in Thee. hominibus bonæ voluntatis. have mercy upon us. O Lord, in Thee have I trusted: Genitori, Genitoque Thou that takest away the sins of the world, let me never be confounded. Laus et iubilatio, Laudamus te; benedicimus te; receive our prayer. Salus, honor, virtus quoque adoramus te; glorificamus te. Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, 8 Jubilate (Windsor Service) Sit et benedictio: Gratias agimus tibi have mercy upon us. O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands: Procedenti ab utroque propter magnam gloriam tuam. Serve the Lord with gladness, Compar sit laudatio. Amen. For Thou only art holy, and come before His presence with a song. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Thou only art the Lord, Be ye sure that the Lord He is God; Sing, my tongue, the Saviourʼs glory, Deus Pater omnipotens. Thou only art the most high, Jesus Christ. it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; Of His Flesh, the mystery sing; Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe. Together with the Holy Ghost We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Of the Blood, all price exceeding, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. O go your way into His gates with thanksgiving, Shed by our Immortal King, Filius Patris. and into His courts with praise; Destined, for the worldʼs redemption, # Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Be thankful unto Him, and speak good of his Name. From a noble womb to spring. Qui tollis peccata mundi, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. For the Lord is gracious, His mercy is everlasting; miserere nobis. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. And His truth endureth from generation to generation. Down in adoration falling, Qui tollis peccata mundi, Hosanna in excelsis. Glory be to the Father and to the Son This great Sacrament we hail, suscipe deprecationem nostram. and to the Holy Ghost; Oʼer ancient forms of worship Qui sedes ad dextram Patris, Holy, Holy, Holy, As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Newer rites of grace prevail; O miserere nobis. Lord God of Hosts. Amen. Faith will tell us Christ is present, Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. When our human senses fail. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, Hosanna in the highest. tu solus Dominus, To the Everlasting Father, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe. $ Benedictus qui venit And the Son who made us free Cum Sancto Spiritu in nomine Domini. And the Spirit, God proceeding in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. Hosanna in excelsis. Blessed is He that cometh Lamb of God, in the name of the Lord. who takest away the sins of the world, Hosanna in the highest. have mercy upon us.

% Agnus Dei, Lamb of God, qui tollis peccata mundi, who takest away the sins of the world, miserere nobis. have mercy upon us.

Agnus Dei, Lamb of God, qui tollis peccata mundi, Grant us peace. miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei. Dona nobis pacem.