at New College

EEvensongvensong booklet.inddbooklet.indd 1-21-2 113/10/103/10/10 18:39:3118:39:31 In order that the Divine Office be celebrated each and EVENSONG every day in our College Chapel and that a full, at NEW COLLEGE OXFORD complete and truly devout service of praise be made to God, “ FounderFounder William William of Wykeham of Wykeham1324-1404 1324–1404 we will, ordain, and state that in addition to the Warden, 1 Introit: William Harris, Faire is the heaven 5'30 thirteen of the seventy Scholars and Fellows abovementioned, 2 Opening Versicles and Responses (William Smith) 1'09 3 Psalm 84 (chant: J. Coward) 3'15 (being sufficiently educated, moral, and of good conversation), 4 Psalm 85 (chant: G. Martin) 4'02 5 First Lesson: Ecclesiasticus 44.1–15 2'14 shall act as acolytes and serve in the Chapel at these 6 Office Hymn: Thomas Tallis, Te lucis ante terminum 2'19 Offices each every day as is their due. We further will and 7 Magnificat: setting in G major by Charles Villiers Stanford 4'06 Treble soloist: Joseph Littlewood ordain that in addition to the Warden, the scholars and Fellows, 8 Second Lesson: I Corinthians 12.27 & 13.1–13 2'54 9 Nunc dimittis: setting in G major by Charles Villiers Stanford 4'15 ten Priests and three clerks of this College and Chapel, Bass soloist: Gregory Sanderson 10 Creed and Lesser Litany (William Smith) 2'22 a further sixteen poor and needy boys of around twelve years 11 Lord’s Prayer (John Farmer) 1'31 of age, who, being sufficiently competent in the arts of reading 12 Versicles, Responses and Collects (William Smith) 4'11 13 First Anthem: , Lo, the full final sacrifice 14'51 and singing, honest, and of decent speech and conversation, 14 Second Anthem: Charles Wood, Hail, gladdening light 3'10 15 Prayers and Blessing 2'50 shall be suffered to assist with the serving, reading, and singing 16 Hymn: Glory to thee my God this night (tune by Thomas Tallis) 2'25 in Chapel; and shall assist the Priests and Fellows in 17 Organ Voluntary: Charles Villiers Stanford, Postlude in D minor 5'24 Total 66'31 Holy Orders who are to celebrate each day in Chapel... (TRACKS 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 13,16): NICHOLAS WEARNE ASSISTING (TRACK 17): ROBERT PATTERSON OFFICIATING PRIEST:THE REVD DR JANE SHAW, CHAPLAIN AND DEAN OF DIVINITY OF NEW COLLEGE OXFORD From the Founder’s Statutes of the College of St Mary of Winchester in Oxford, THE OF NEW COLLEGE OXFORD commonly called New College ” DIRECTED BY EDWARD HIGGINBOTTOM

EEvensongvensong booklet.inddbooklet.indd 3-43-4 113/10/103/10/10 18:39:3418:39:34 NewNew CollegeCollege ChapelChapel andand itsits Music

From thethe outset,outset, Wykeham’s Wykeham’s Oxford Oxford foundation foundation was was marked marked out outfor musicalfor musical distinction. things. IfIf thethe 19th19th centurycentury waswas aa quietquiet moment inin the chapel’s history, the publication ofof aa His provisionprovision forfor chaplains,chaplains, clerks clerks and and sixteen sixteen choristers choristers was was more more ambitious ambitious than than for New College hymnal inin 19001900 marked marked an an upturn upturn in inthe the aspirations ambition of of the the chapel chapel and and its otherfor other such such chantries chantries and andplaces places of learning,of learning, and and it became it became a model a model for for a succession a succession of itsmusic, music, underpinned underpinned by bythe the inspired inspired appointment appointment in in 1901 1901 of of Sir Sir Hugh Hugh AllenAllen asas later foundations, (including Magdalen, Eton, King’s Cambridge and Wolsey’s Cardinal Organist. The subsequent list of is impressive but it is perhaps appropriate of distinguished later foundations (including, Magdalen, Eton, King’s Cambridge and Organist. The subsequent list of organists is impressive but it is perhaps appropriate to College). According to Wykeham’s statutes, fellows and scholars were obliged to attend to single out H.K.Andrews. His regular broadcasts of evensong from New College Wolsey’s Cardinal College). According to Wykeham’s statutes, fellows and scholars single out H K Andrews, the centenary of whose birth is also the 600th anniversary of daily Mass, and the rituals of the chapel were the dominant feature of the life of the during the Second World War brought the choir into a wider sphere; and his considerable were obliged to attend daily Mass, and the rituals of the chapel were the dominant Wykeham’s death. His regular broadcasts of evensong from New College during the College. (To this day, the statutes refer to the privileged place of the chapel and its accomplishments as a writer on music (Palestrina, Byrd, the Oxford Harmony Course) liturgy.)feature of There the life is ofevidence the College. of a (Torich this vein day, of the polyphony statutes refer attached to the to privileged New College place providedSecond World an invaluable War brought contribution the Choir to University into a wider studies. sphere; The successionand his considerable of talented duringof the chapelits pre-Reformation and its liturgy.) years,There some is evidence of it withof a richconcordances vein of polyphony in the Etonattached Choir to andaccomplishments committed organists as a writer have on musicmaintained (Palestrina, the standing Byrd, the of Oxford the Choir Harmony as one Course) of the Book,New College though duringthe College its pre-Reformation organists were not years, among some the of most it with celebrated concordances of 15th- in andthe leadingprovided ensembles an invaluable of itscontribution kind in the to country, University bringing ambitions. to its The work succession a vigour ofand talented polish earlyEton 16th-centuryChoir Book, composers.though the College organists were not among the most celebrated ofand which committed Wykeham organists would has have maintained surely approved, the standing but for of the the regrettable Choir as businessone of the of of 15th- and early 16th-century composers. partingleading withensembles Rome. of its kind in the country, bringing to its work a vigour and polish All this was to change dramatically at the Reformation, a process of change which of which Wykeham would surely have approved. convulsedAll this was the to changeCollege dramatically during some at thethirty Reformation, years, until a theprocess Elizabethan of change Actwhich of Even though New College sustains a centuries-old tradition, the daily routine brings Settleconvulsedment. the Under College the during stipulations some thirtyof the years, Book until of Common the Elizabethan Prayer, Act the of of Settlement.fi ces were withEven it though very contemporary New College challenges. sustains a Eachcenturies-old year a new tradition, set of singers the daily must routine be recruited brings reducedUnder the to astipulations morning and of anthe evening Book ofservice Common (Matins Prayer, and Evensong) the offices with were the reduced frequency to andwith trained, it very contemporaryand grafted onto challenges. the stock Each remaining. year a new Each set ofday singers something must beneeds recruited to be ofa morningHoly Communion and an evening drastically service curtailed. (Matins This and ‘Anglican’ Evensong) liturgy with has the run presence all the way of addedand trained, to the andChoir’s grafted accomplishment; onto the stock which remaining. will always Each beday measured something against needs whollyto be downHoly Communionto our own time, drastically with only curtailed. the expulsion This ‘Anglican’ of the fellows liturgy during has run the all Common- the way professionaladded to the standards.Choir’s accomplishment; The training required which will is seenalways as bea propermeasured re flagainst ection whollyof the wealthdown breakingto our own the tradition.time, with In theonly 18th the century, expulsion the College of the subscribed fellows during to most the of edu-cationalprofessional standards.purpose of The the trainingUniversity required as a whole, is seen and as mucha proper has reflectionbeen achieved of the in theCommonwealth signifi cant publications breaking the of tradition. sacred musicIn the by18th the century, likes of the William College Croft, subscribed Maurice to recenteducational years purposeto integrate of the the University work and achievementas a whole, and of themuch Choir has intobeen the achieved warp and in Greenemost of andthe Williamsignificant Boyce. publications Manuscript of sacred materials music in bythe thepossession likes of ofWilliam the College Croft, woofrecent of years the toUniversity’s integrate the academic work and life. achievement In a similar, of altogether the Choir contemporary in the warp and way, woof the showMaurice that Greene choruses and from William Handel’s Boyce. oratorios Manuscript became materials a part ofin the repertory,possession andof thewe Choirof the widensUniversity’s its reputation academic throughlife. In a itssimilar, recordings altogether and tours,contemporary and its regular way, the webcast Choir knowCollege that show the Collegethat choruses organists, from notably Handel’s Philip oratorios Hayes, became were in a touch part ofwith the the repertory, leading ofwidens services its reputation from the throughchapel. Toits recordingsbe sure, it andsings tours. its servicesTo be sure, in ait medieval sings its servicesOxford musicaland we knowfi gures that of thethe Collegeday. organists, notably , were in touch with the chapelin a medieval according Oxford to a traditional chapel within liturgy, the but context its music of a traditionalcontinues to liturgy, serve buta contemporary its music is need for spiritual refl ection with the context of artistic endeavour. leading musical figures of the day. heard across the world.

EEvensongvensong booklet.inddbooklet.indd 5-65-6 113/10/103/10/10 18:39:3418:39:34 Evensong at New College The ofofficefi ce of of Evensong Evensong is is the the principal principal liturgy liturgy sung sung by today’s by today’s chapel chapel choir.The choir. service The The twotwo anthemsanthems represent represent contrasting contrasting aspects aspects of ofthe the British British choral choral tradition. tradition. The stillservice observes still observes the form theof theform Book laid of down Common in the Prayer. Book In of this Common recording Prayer. it begins In withthis large-scaleThe large-scale setting setting by Gerald by GeraldFinzi (1901-1956) Finzi (1901 of–1956) Richard of RichardCrashaw’s Crashaw’s poem Lo, poemthe full anrecording Introit itby begins Sir William with an Harris Introit (1883-1973), by Sir William who Harris was (1883Organist–1973), of New who Collegewas Organist from fiLo, nal thesacri fullfi ce finalis the sacrifice most ambitiousis the most of ambitious his anthems, of hischaracterised anthems, characterisedby his unmistakeable by his 1919 to 1929: a setting of Spenser’s poem Faire is the heaven, fi rst per-formed in the sinuous lyricism, and held together by recurring motives. It was written in 1946 for St of New College from 1919 to 1929: a setting of Spenser’s poem Faire is the heaven, unmistakeable sinuous lyricism, and held together by recurring motives. It was chapel in 1926, and dedicated to Sir Hugh Allen. It displays considerable craft (in writing Matthew’s Northampton, a commission that recognised his increasing stature in the first performed in the chapel in 1926, and dedicated to Sir Hugh Allen. It displays written in 1946 for St Matthew’s Northampton, a commission that recognised his forconsiderable eight voices), craft but (in above writing all an inspirationalfor eight voices), response but to theabove text, all articulated an inspirational not only sphere of sacred music in England. Hail, gladdening light by Charles Wood (1866-1926) is by an ear for vocal sonority but also by striking and original harmonic devices. closerincreasing in date stature to Stanford’s in the sphereG major of canticles. sacred music It rounds in England. off the fully Hail, choral gladdening material light by response to the text, articulated not only by an ear for vocal sonority but also by by Charles Wood (1866–1926) is closer in date to Stanford’s G major canticles. It striking and original harmonic devices. returning to Harris’s double choir idiom, contrasting the blaze of A major light of the The opening versicles and responses follow immediately, these in a well-known openingrounds offwith the the fully hushed choral C sharp material minor by shades returning of evening. to Harris’s double choir idiom, contrasting the blaze of A major light of the opening with the hushed C sharp minor settingThe opening by William versicles Smith and(1603-1645). responses Psalms follow 84 immediately, and 85 are sung in ato well-known chants by J. Cowardsetting andby William G. Martin Smith respectively, (1603–1645). in an Psalms antiphonal 84 and arrangement 85 are sung atto thechants half by verse. J. Coward Each Theshades said of prayers evening. use the formulas proper to a Gaude evensong, with a prayer for the ofand the G. Martintwo lessons respectively, is followed in an by antiphonal its canticle, arrangement Magnifi cat and at the Nunc half dimittis, verse. Eachhere ofin Founder and other benefactors. The words of the fi nal hymn Glory to thee my God this The said prayers use the formulas proper to a Gaude evensong, with a prayer for the settingsthe two by lessons Charles is Villiers followed Stanford by (1852-1924).its canticle, Stanford Magnificat was noand stranger Nunc to dimittis, Oxford and here New in night are by Bishop Thomas Ken (1637-1711), fellow of New College during the Com- Founder and other benefactors. The words of the final hymn Glory to thee my God College,settings visitingby Charles the college Villiers several Stanford times (1852during– 1924).Sir Hugh Stanford Allen’s day.was His no setting stranger of theto monwealth and at the Restoration, and Bishop of Bath and Wells. These words are this night are by Bishop Thomas Ken (1637–1711), fellow of New College during eveningOxford andcanticles New in College, G major visiting appeared the incollege 1904. severalIt is characterised times during not Sir only Hugh by its Allen’s solos inextricably linked to the melody of Tallis, whose canonic working is revealed in the (trebleday. His in thesetting Magni offi thecat andevening bass incanticles the Nunc in dimittis) G major but appeared its generally in 1904, reserved another tone, lastthe verse.Commonwealth and at the Restoration, and Bishop of Bath and Wells. These grandiloquent only in the Gloria of the Magnifi cat. Wykeham anniversary. It is characterised not only by its solos (treble in the Magnificat words are inextricably linked to the melody of Tallis, whose canonic working is The music of this recording is not intended to represent a particular epoch in the cha- and bass in the Nunc dimittis) but its generally reserved tone, grandiloquent only in revealed in the last verse. Preceding the Magnifi cat is the evening offi ce hymn, Te lucis ante terminum, sung pel’s long history. It is freely eclectic, and evokes most clearly the experience that some- the Gloria of the Magnificat. to a plainchant setting with a simple harmonisation of verse 2 by Thomas Tallis oneThe mightmusic have of this when recording walking isinto not Evensong intended at to New represent College a particularduring University epoch inTerm. the (c.1505-1585).Preceding the Smith’sMagnificat music is theappears evening again office for thehymn, responses Te lucis after ante theterminum Creed,, sungwith Tochapel’s be sure, long there history. is an It accent is freely on eclecticthe Founder and setsand outcelebration, to evoke butthe whatexperience you hear that is Johnto a plainchantFarmer’s (d.setting c.1603) with Lord’s a simple Prayer harmonisation interleaved of(in versean edition 2 by Thomasby Sir DavidTallis typicalsomeone of mightthe daily have round when of walking liturgical into choral Evensong music, atan New activity College which during must count University as our Lumsden,(c.1505–1585). Organist Smith’s 1959-1976). music appears again for the responses after the Creed, with closestTerm. Tobeconnection sure, there with isthe an Founder. accent on the Founder and celebration, but what you hear John Farmer’s (d. c.1603) Lord’s Prayer interleaved (in an edition by Sir David is typical of the daily round of liturgical choral music, an activity which must count as © Edward Higginbottom 2010 Lumsden, Organist 1959–1976). our closest connection with the Founder. Edward Higginbottom

EEvensongvensong booklet.inddbooklet.indd 7-87-8 113/10/103/10/10 18:39:3418:39:34 WilliamWilliam ofof Wykeham Wykeham and and New New College College

William of Wykeham (1324–1404), one of the most spectacular careerists of the concrete expression in his elaborate chantry chapel in the nave he built at Middle Ages, rose from provincial Hampshire obscurity to become surveyor of Winchester cathedral and in the colleges he founded. building work at Windsor Castle (1356–61), chief surveyor of the King’s Works (1359), Edward III’s private secretary (1361), keeper of the Privy Seal (1363–7), Wykeham began buying property for a college in Oxford in 1369. His embryonic twice Chancellor (1367–71 and 1389–91), and bishop of Winchester (1367–1404), community of scholars established by 1371 became in 1379 ‘the College of St Mary the richest see in England. An active bishop, though lacking any higher education, of Winchester in Oxford’, known as early as 1392 as New College. Between 1380 he amassed great wealth through high office and ecclesiastical preferment. and 1403 the main buildings, designed by William Wynford (d.1404), were erected: For forty years, Wykeham operated at the centre of politics and government, the main quadrangle, chapel and hall (by 1386); cloisters, for processions and burials earning a reputation for thoroughness, opportunism, acquisitiveness and a certain (1400), bell tower (1403). Wykeham founded New College to honour God and the flexibility of principle. Virgin Mary; to commemorate his soul and those of his benefactors; and to increase the supply of educated clergy. Intended to be as much a chantry as a Wykeham’s public career coincided with a period of economic crisis, military defeat, clerical seminary, the college was to contain a Warden, seventy fellows, including political violence and social unrest. Successive returns of the Black Death plague undergraduates as well as graduates. All were to come from the school Wykeham savagely reduced the population, disrupting patterns of material life, stimulating began at Winchester (1382) to equip his scholars with basic Latin. To fulfil an enhanced sense of inescapable mortality. The Hundred Years War with France Wykeham’s central purpose of commemoration, ten chaplains and three chapel turned expensively and decisively against the English, while government clerks were to maintain the round of requiem masses even if lack of funds prevented repeatedly descended into vicious factional bloodletting, culminating in 1399 with there being enough money to support any fellows. Integral to the scheme was a the deposition of Richard II and usurpation of Henry IV. In 1381, a combination of resident choir of sixteen ‘poor boys’ under twelve, ‘competent at reading and restrictive landlords, failed political leadership and inequitable poll taxes singing’, who paid their way by serving the fellows in hall. Wykeham’s statutes laid provoked the Peasants’ Revolt, the most concerted and dangerous popular rebellion great emphasis on the details of how services, including daily antiphons to the of the Middle Ages. Virgin Mary, were to be conducted. Wykeham’s plan translated monastic idealism, Wykeham’s reaction revolved around the urgency of personal salvation and the coherence and discipline to a secular college. In size, thoroughness of design and restoration of the numbers and quality of the English clergy which had suffered magnificence of provision, nothing in Oxford or Cambridge at the time matched greatly from these upheavals. Within an earnest if conventional spiritual life, New College. The survival of the choir for six hundred years despite changing with a special devotion since schooldays to the cult of the Virgin Mary, Wykeham’s religious dogma, fashion, allegiance and law, is not the least of New College’s concerns for his and his benefactors’ souls and the health of the church found continued debt to its founder. Christopher Tyerman © Christopher Tyerman 2010

EEvensongvensong booklet.inddbooklet.indd 9-109-10 113/10/103/10/10 18:39:3418:39:34 The Choir of NewNew CollegeCollege OxfordOxford Trebles Robert Brooks, Corin Cole, Guy Cutting, Jacob Dennison, Andrew Doll, Samuel Ellison, Jack Frith-Powell, Luke Frith-Powell, Felix Higginbottom, Otta Jones, Joseph Littlewood, Caspian Mitchard, Sasha Ockenden, Matthew Thorns, Harry Vance-Law

Altos Owain John, Dana Marsh, Stephen Taylor, Matthew Venner

Tenors Benedict Linton, Alastair Putt, William Rolls, Will Unwin

Basses Simon Beston, Laurence Cramp, Tom Edwards, Thomas Rogers, Gregory Sanderson, Stefan Schrijnen

Organ Scholar: Nicholas Wearne Assisting Organist: Robert Patterson Director: Edward Higginbottom

Recorded in the Chapel of New College, Oxford 14 July 2003 Produced and engineered by Adrian Hunter

InPhotographs common with of otherWilliam cds on of theWykeham’s label crozier, the images and of used the toportrait present of this William recording of allWykeham have close associationsare reproduced with with New the College. permission The front of the cover Warden shows andWilliam Scholars of Wykeham’s of New College, magnifi Oxfordcent gold crozier, richly ornamented with enamelled portraits of musicians and their instruments. The portrait ofNew William College of Choir Wykeham is pleased is toa copyacknowledge of the portrait the generous by Samson contributions Strong of which Marty hangs Sieve inand the Colleen College chapelShannon, and andshows of WilliamStephen inPage front and of Antheathe college Morland, he founded. towards Both theare costsreproduced of making with this the permissionrecording of the Warden and Scholars of New College.

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