MUSIC FOR THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN CONTEMPORARY MARIAN 1 Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962) Salve Regina [4:53] CA, CO, HC, AC, GC, TK, LW, NA

THE MARIAN CONSORT 2 Judith Weir (b. 1954) Ave Regina caelorum [3:49] CA, CO, RMcC, GC, LW, NA RORY MCCLEERY DIRECTOR 3 (1892–1983) Salve Regina [4:37] CHARLOTTE ASHLEY, CECILIA OSMOND SOPRANOS CA, CO, HC, GC, LW, NA with Anna Dennis soprano solo RORY MCCLEERY, HANNAH COOKE, ALEX CHANCE ALTOS GUY CUTTING, THOMAS KELLY TENORS 4 Andrzej Panufnik (1914–1991) Song to the Virgin Mary [12:11] CA, CO, RMcC, GC, LW, NA LAWRENCE WHITE BARITONE NICK ASHBY BASS 5 Cecilia McDowall (b. 1951) Alma redemptoris mater [5:19] CA, CO, RMcC, GC, LW, NA

6 Matthew Martin (b. 1976) Ave virgo sanctissima [3:36] CA, CO, RMcC, GC, LW, NA

7 Cheryl Frances-Hoad (b. 1980) Gaude et laetare [4:39] CA, CO, RMcC, GC, LW, NA

8 Hilary Campbell (b. 1983) Ave Maria [4:07] CA, CO, RMcC, GC, LW, NA

9 Stephen Dodgson (1924–2013) Dormi, Jesu [2:33] CA, RMcC, GC The Marian Consort is grateful to the Golsoncott Foundation, the Finzi Trust, Jane Dodgson and the Friends of the Marian Consort for their generous contribution towards making this recording; thanks are also due to Kay Langley-May and St Michael’s Church 10 Roxanna Panufnik (b. 1968) (St Pancras Service) [5:57] Highgate, and to all of the living composers featured on this recording. CA, CO, HC, GC, LW, NA

11 Lennox Berkeley (1903–1989) Regina coeli, laetare [3:08] Recorded on 10-12 January 2017 Design: Drew Padrutt Join the Delphian mailing list: in St Michael's Church, Highgate Booklet editor : Henry Howard www.delphianrecords.co.uk/join CA, CO, RMcC, GC, LW, NA Producers: Paul Baxter Cover illustration: Trygve Skogrand, Like us on Facebook: & Rory McCleery Madonna of the Bus-Stop, 2008, 12 James MacMillan (b. 1959) Ave maris stella [4:35] www.facebook.com/delphianrecords Engineer: Paul Baxter digital collage (2008), private CA, CO, HC, AC, GC, TK, LW, NA 24-bit digital editing: Matthew Swan collection/Bridgeman Images Follow us on Twitter: 24-bit digital mastering: Paul Baxter Delphian Records Ltd – Edinburgh – UK @delphianrecords Total playing time [59:31] www.delphianrecords.co.uk Notes on the music Notes on the music Notes on the music Texts & translations Texts & translations

Texts & translations Biographies

Rory McCleery began his musical career as passionate believer in the importance of music Their repertoire encompasses the music of sings with eloquence and expressive finesse’, a chorister at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, education and singing for young people. He is the the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries with a and Gramophone calling it ‘superb’. A 2013 Edinburgh under Timothy Byram-Wigfield and Associate Director of the Oxford Youth , particular focus on the exploration of lesser- release of music by the Parisian Renaissance Matthew Owens. He gained a double first in and also acts as an academic and programming known works, often bringing these to the composer Jean Maillard (DCD34130) music at Oxford University as both Organ and consultant to festivals and many of the attention of the wider public for the first time. attracted praise from Richard Morrison in Domus Academic scholar of St Peter’s College, ensembles with whom he performs. The Marian Consort is also a proud exponent The Times for its ‘precision and pellucid subsequently completing an MSt in Musicology of contemporary music, juxtaposing latter-day textures’, with the Guardian noting that ‘the with Distinction. He is the founder and musical Taking its name from the Blessed Virgin Mary, pieces and Renaissance works in concert in performances are models of discretion and director of The Marian Consort. a focus of religious devotion in the sacred order to shed new light on both. As part of musical taste, every texture clear, every music of all ages, The Marian Consort is a this commitment to new music, the group phrase beautifully shaped’. The ensemble’s As a countertenor, Rory greatly enjoys working young, dynamic and internationally-renowned has commissioned works from several leading recording of a Christmas mass and motets as a soloist and consort singer in concert and early music vocal ensemble, recognised for British choral composers, including Cecilia by Jean Mouton, Cristóbal de Morales and recording with ensembles including The Dunedin its freshness of approach and innovative McDowall, Gabriel Jackson, Cheryl Frances- Annibale Stabile (DCD34145) was Christmas Consort, Contrapunctus, The Monteverdi , presentation of a broad range of repertoire. Hoad and Matthew Martin. Choice in BBC Music Magazine, which The Sixteen, The Gabrieli Consort, The Tallis Under its founder and director, Rory McCleery, commented that ‘the works are mellifluously Scholars, Le Concert d'Astrée, The Academy this ‘astounding’ (The Herald) ensemble The Marian Consort performs across the UK performed by The Marian Consort, who of Ancient Music, The Orchestra of the Age of has given concerts throughout the UK and and Europe: recent highlights have included shape the sinuous polyphony with winning Enlightenment and The Cardinall’s Musick. Europe, features regularly on BBC Radio 3, recitals at King’s Place, the Tage Alter Musik pliability’, while the Sunday Times described and is a former ‘Young Artist’ of The Brighton Regensburg and the Festival de Música Antiga the disc as ‘sublime – sung with impeccable Recent solo performances have included Bach Early Music Festival. Valencia; concerts for the Leipzig A Cappella polish and blend’ and the Observer lauded St John and St Matthew Passions and Christmas Festival and the St Magnus International the group for ‘drawing the listener in by Oratorio; Handel Messiah, Dixit Dominus and Known for its engaging performances and Festival; and performances at the Wellcome quiet persuasion and musical intelligence Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne; Pärt Passio; imaginative programming, the group draws its Collection and the British Academy. of the highest order’. 2016 saw the release Purcell Come ye Sons of Art, Ode to St Cecilia members from amongst the very best young of Gesualdo’s Sacrae Cantiones for five and Welcome to All the Pleasures; Monteverdi singers on the early music scene today. They The Marian Consort has to date released voices, Book I (DCD34176), praised Vespers of 1610; Rameau Grands Motets; and normally sing one to a part (dependent on the seven CDs with Delphian Records which have by Gramophone as ‘impeccable Britten Abraham and Isaac in venues across the repertoire), with smaller vocal forces allowing met with considerable critical acclaim. Its performances, easily the finest on record’, UK and Europe. Rory has appeared as a soloist clarity of texture and subtlety and flexibility disc of English and Continental Renaissance and of Stabat Mater: sacred choral music by for broadcasts on ARTE, Radio France, BBC Radio of interpretation that illuminate the music music from the Dow Partbooks (DCD34115) Lennox and Michael Berkeley (DCD34180) in 3 and German and Italian radio, and collaborates for performer and audience alike. The Marian received outstanding reviews in all of the collaboration with the Berkeley Ensemble, regularly with the Rose Consort of Viols. Consort is also committed to inspiring a love major broadsheets, with The Scotsman giving conducted by David Wordsworth. of singing in others, and has led participatory it 5 stars for ‘performances that glow with Rory is much in demand as a guest conductor, educational workshops for a wide range of golden purity and soul’, the Sunday Times chorus master and workshop leader, and is a ages and abilities. commenting ‘exquisite … the ensemble Also available on Delphian

Loquebantur: Music from the Baldwin Partbooks Stabat Mater: sacred choral music by Lennox & Michael Berkeley The Marian Consort, Rose Consort of Viols The Marian Consort; Berkeley Ensemble / David Wordsworth DCD34160 DCD34180 John Baldwin was a at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in 1575 and became Lennox Berkeley’s Stabat Mater derives from one of the most fertile and inspired a Gentleman of the in 1598. The so-called ‘Baldwin partbooks’, held at periods of his compositional life. A masterpiece, and until now the last of his Christ Church, Oxford, were his creation – a very personal collection, representing his major works to go unrecorded, it was written for a concert tour by his close friend individual tastes and interests from a wealth of English and Continental polyphony ’s English Opera Group; hence the unusual but effective scoring and consort music. As in their previous collaboration, an exploration of the similarly for six solo voices and twelve instrumentalists. Delphian artists The Marian conceived partbooks of Robert Dow, the Rose Consort of Viols and The Marian Consort – with five acclaimed discs of early music to their credit – now show their Consort have kept faith with Baldwin’s own intentions, bringing to light some of the versatility in a cappella and accompanied music by both Lennox and his son Michael rarer gems preserved by this great advocate and music-lover and providing the listener Berkeley. They are partnered in the larger works by the Berkeley Ensemble, whose with ‘such sweete musicke: as dothe much delite yeelde’. performances are enriched by their intimate knowledge of these composers’ music. The same can be said of conductor David Wordsworth, who has known and worked ‘spartan but severely beautiful … The acoustic of Merton College chapel with both composers, and who here fulfils a long-cherished ambition to direct this provides ideal focus and warmth’ important addition to the catalogue. — The Observer, November 2015 ‘A beguiling, solemn work, sparsely written but deeply felt … impeccably performed.’ — BBC Music Magazine, November 2016

Christmas with the Shepherds: Morales – Mouton – Stabile O Virgo Benedicta: Music of Marian Devotion from Spain's Century of Gold The Marian Consort, Rory McCleery director The Marian Consort, Rory McCleery director DCD34145 DCD34086 A Christmas programme with a difference: Rory McCleery and his acclaimed consort A six-strong Marian Consort makes its Delphian debut in a programme celebrating echo the shepherds’ noels through a by Jean Mouton which, astonishingly, the rich compositional legacy of the Siglo del Oro’s intensely competitive musical remained in the repertoire of the Sistine Chapel for over a hundred years after its culture. These luminous works – centred on the figure of the Virgin Mary – demand composition around 1515. By the middle of the sixteenth century, it had formed the performances of great intelligence and vocal commitment, and the youthful singers basis for a mass by Cristóbal de Morales, then engaged as a singer in the papal chapel, respond absolutely, bringing hushed intimacy and bristling excitement to some of the while later still its text was re-used in a new, grander motet by Annibale Stabile. A most gorgeously searing lines in the history of European polyphony. world premiere recording of the latter work crowns this unique programme, for which ‘Precision of tuning and purity of tone … I gained a great deal of pleasure from listening McCleery himself has prepared new performing editions. to this flawlessly executed programme’ ‘The delivery is clean, unadorned, unaccompanied and undemonstrative, drawing the — John Quinn, MusicWeb International, June 2011 listener in by quiet persuasion and musical intelligence of the highest order’ — The Observer, December 2014 DCD34183DCD34190