Gaudent in Coelis 1

GAUDENT IN COELIS CHORAL MUSIC BY SALLY BEAMISH, JUDITH BINGHAM & JOANNA MARSH THE CHOIRS OF ST CATHARINE’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE EDWARD WICKHAM RES10185 Sally Beamish (b. 1956) Judith Bingham & Gaudent in coelis 1. Gaudent in coelis [3:05] Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918) Choral Music by Sally Beamish, 15. Distant thunder [5:13] Judith Bingham & Joanna Marsh Joanna Marsh (b. 1970) 16. My soul there is a country [3:51] 2. Lord, thou hast searched me and known me [3:23] Sally Beamish St Catharine’s Service Judith Bingham (b. 1952) 17. Magnificat [3:29] Edington Service 18. Nunc Dimittis [3:22] 3. Magnificat [5:48] The Choirs of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge 4. Nunc Dimittis [3:26] Edward Wickham conductor Total playing time [69:08] Joanna Marsh Missa Brevis: Collegium Sanctae Catharinae 5. Kyrie [3:28] 6. Gloria [6:25] 7. Sanctus & Benedictus [3:29] 8. Agnus Dei [3:22] Sally Beamish Two Canticles 9. Canticle by the Lax Pool [3:24] 10. Among the Sundered People [3:21] Judith Bingham & Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585) 11. The Spirit of truth [4:05] About The Choirs of St Catharine’s College & Edward Wickham: 12. If ye love me [2:20] ‘[...] splendidly performed by these exceptionally well-trained singers’ Judith Bingham & The Observer Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) 13. The darkness is no darkness [4:06] ‘St Catharine’s […] acquit themselves well in some tricky music 14. Thou wilt keep him in in the lustrous wood surroundings of the college’s little chapel’ perfect peace [3:21] Gramophone Gaudent in coelis: Choral Music by In heaven rejoice the souls of the saints, Sally Beamish, Judith Bingham & who have followed the steps of Christ; Joanna Marsh and, because for his love they shed their blood, therefore with Christ they exult forever. This programme has no particular theme, unless the ambition to showcase something Anonymous, Magnificat Antiphon of the diversity, depth and ambition of contemporary British Church music can be Joanna Marsh (b. 1970) regarded as a theme. Instead, it comprises 2. Thou hast searched me and known me three ‘portraits’ of composers to whom, over the course of a decade, the choirs of Joanna Marsh writes: St Catharine’s have consistently returned. ‘Written as a tribute to my mother Barbara In the cases of Sally Beamish and Joanna Marsh who died in 2013, the choice of text Marsh this has resulted in new works was influenced by her unwavering Christian commissioned by the choirs; and most of faith and sense of the constancy of God. the recordings presented here are premieres. The individual works are discussed in the ‘In this piece I use a repetitive cadential notes below. sequence with a low root that evaporates away into ethereal upper registers; the thick Sally Beamish (b. 1956) textures quickly reducing to thin ones. These 1. Gaudent in coelis thin textures are frequently left hanging in the air and unresolved. I was interested to see This short anthem was commissioned by how the cadential figure might be used as a Sally Beamish for the Cathedral Organists way of generating material: first used at the Association, and first performed at their beginning of the phrase, then punctuating conference in Edinburgh on 8 May 2012, the middle and then at the end. The piece by the Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, evolved from this idea.’ directed by Duncan Ferguson. Thou hast searched me and known me Gaudent in coelis O Lord, thou has searched me and known me. Gaudent in coelis animae sanctorum, Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, qui Christi vestigia sunt secuti; thou understandeth my thought afar off. et quia pro eius amore sanguinem suum fuderunt, Thou compassest my path and my lying down, ideo cum Christo exsultant sine fine. and art acquainted with all my ways. Magnificat he hath scattered the proud in the imagination Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, For there is not a word in my tongue, Magnificat: anima mea Dominum. of their hearts. and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Et exsultavit spiritus meus: in Deo salutari meo. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: is now and ever shall be, world without end. Thou hast beset me behind and before, Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: and hath exalted the humble and meek. Amen. and laid thine hand upon me. ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes He hath filled the hungry with good things: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; generationes. and the rich he hath sent empty away. Luke 2:29-32 it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: He remembering his mercy hath holpen his et sanctum nomen ejus. servant Israel: Psalm 139:1-6 Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies: As he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and Joanna Marsh timentibus eum. his seed for ever. Missa Brevis: Collegium Sanctae Catharinae Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, 5. Kyrie Judith Bingham (b. 1952) dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. and to the Holy Ghost: 6. Gloria Edington Service Deposuit potentes de sede: As it was in the beginning, is now, 7. Sanctus & Benedictus et exaltavit humiles. and ever shall be: 3. Magnificat 8. Agnus Dei 4. Nunc Dimittis Esurientes implevit bonis: world without end. Amen. et divites dimisit inanes. Joanna Marsh writes: Bingham’s second setting of the Magnificat Suscepit Israel puerum suum: Luke 1:46-55 recordatus misericordiae suae. ‘Missa Brevis: Collegium Sanctae Catharinae is and Nunc dimittis, made for the fiftieth Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros: Nunc Dimittis a mass setting written for the two choirs of St Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy Abraham et semini ejus in saecula. Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, Catharine’s College Cambridge: the mixed in 2005, involves an imaginative leap back Gloria Patri et Filio: secundum verbum tuum in pace: College choir and the choir of girl choristers. to the first Christian congregations. The et Spiritui Sancto. Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum Two of the movements, the Kyrie and composer chose the Latin text for her Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper: Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: Benedictus are for the Girls’ choir alone. Edington Service as a vehicle to return to et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, The first performance of the Missa Brevis was the distant past. ‘The Magnificat only has et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. on Ascension Day 2016, and to fit with this an organ pedal accompaniment, a repeated My soul doth magnify the Lord: Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto: theme I selected a Biblical text from the Old rhythmic motif,’ she observes. ‘I wanted to And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, Testament that is widely interpreted as a For he hath regarded the lowliness of his in saecula saeculorum. Amen. make both movements sound arcane, as prophesy of the Ascension of Christ; Daniel hand-maiden: if evoking worshippers of two thousand verses 13-18. The musical content of each for behold, from henceforth all generations shall Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart years ago. The Nunc dimittis seems to be movement is paired with a line of text so that wafting down the airways from a long time call me blessed. in peace according to thy word. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, music becomes vehicle to relate the meaning ago.’ Originally conceived for mixed choir, and holy is his name. Which thou hast prepared before the face of the words to this liturgical context. this is the first recording of the revised And his mercy is on them that fear him: of all people; version, for upper voices. throughout all generations. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be ‘In the passage Daniel discusses his ‘night He hath showed strength with his arm: the glory of thy people Israel. visions’. The ‘Kyrie’ draws from verse 13 and opens expectantly awaiting the Son of God’s Gloria Sanctus & Benedictus Sally Beamish arrival, ‘As I watched in the night visions, I Gloria in excelsis Deo. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Two Canticles saw one like a human being coming with the Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Dominus Deus sabaoth. 9. Canticle by the Lax Pool clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. 10. Among the Sundered People One and was presented before him’. The Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Osanna in excelsis. ‘Gloria’ reflects on Christ being given dominion, Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. These two settings of poems by Martin Shaw Domine Deus, rex coelestis, Holy, Holy, Holy glory and kingship. It is more strident in were commissioned by the R.A. Vestey Deus pater omnipotens. Lord God of hosts. nature, asserting that, ‘His dominion is an Domine fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Memorial Trust for the Choir of St everlasting dominion that shall not pass Domine Deus, agnus Dei, filius patris. Hosanna in the highest. Edmundsbury Cathedral, directed by Scott away, and his kingship is one that shall never Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Farrell. The first performance was given in 1998. be destroyed’. The ‘Sanctus’ and ‘Benedictus’ Qui tollis peccata mundi, Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

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