Recordings

O praise the Lord: Restoration music from Westminster Abbey

Released April 2010 (Hyperion CDA67792)

The Choir of Westminster Abbey under director James O’Donnell delves into the Abbey’s vaults for this fascinating programme of music from the Restoration era.

Child O praise the Lord
Blow Voluntary in A
Blow God is our hope and strength
Blow Venite
Turner Psalm 113
Blow Voluntary in D minor
Purcell Benedicite (Complete Service in B flat)
Purcell Benedictus (Complete Service in B flat)
Purcell O Lord God of hosts
Blow Voluntary in D minor
Blow Salvator mundi, salva nos
Purcell Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei
Purcell Voluntary in D minor
Purcell Hear my prayer, O Lord
Turner Psalm 54
Purcell Voluntary in C minor
Purcell Magnificat (Complete Service in B flat)
Purcell Nunc dimittis (Complete Service in B flat)
Purcell Lord, how long wilt thou be angry
Purcell Voluntary in G major

James O’Donnell conductor
Robert Quinney organ
The Choir of Westminster Abbey

This recording from The Choir of Westminster Abbey presents music likely to have been sung by – and in some cases, almost certain to have been written for – the Abbey Choir during the late 1670s and early 1680s. The triumphant mood of the Restoration required much glorious liturgical music, and the Abbey was home to some of the greatest composers and performers of the age. On this disc the Abbey Choir sings four canticles from the compendious Service in B flat by Henry Purcell, together with psalmody in reconstructed contemporary style, and anthems and motets by Purcell and his contemporary John Blow, who famously both preceded and succeeded Purcell as Organist of the Abbey.

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Reviews

"A highly accomplished and nicely varied survey of Restoration music."
- Gramophone

"The Abbey choir, under James O'Donnell, conveys the thrill of Purcell's music and the whole disc is marked by crucial attention to the articulation of words and the careful balancing of choral sonorities."
- The Daily Telegraph

"Clear and uncluttered sound, the antiphonal effects nicely caught in a faultless Hyperion recording."
- International Record Review

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