New Recording by Westminster Cathedral Choir
  • smt
    Posts: 84
    Finally the first recording of Westminster Cathedral Choir under Simon Johnson is available! "Lumen Christi", released by the Ad fontes label by Buckfast Abbey. I waited for it for quite some time now. On X Buckfast once posted a picture from a recording session. Now Spotify has it already and it's hard to listen not too much of it as it feels quite wrong to listen to Easter vigil music shortly before palm sunday. But if anybody has an opinion on the choir as it presents itself here I would be happy to hear it. There was so much debate after Cardinal Nichols decisions on the boarding school, Martin Bakers leave etc.
    One of my first impressions was (but I really just listened to a few sections, not more than 5min in total) that the choir has not lost its majestic cathedral-sound although in the Gregorian pieces it might be that they have been more "together" before. Consonants, changes of vowels ... it's not completely uniform, isn't it? But I would have to compare more closely to older recordings.
    Thanked by 1Joseph Michael
  • smt
    Posts: 84
    It's over two weeks already since the second album under Simon Johnson appeared: Veni Creator Spiritus, with music for pentecost. It's interesting how the choir sound has evolved.
    Regarding the debate on Martin Baker's leave and the eventual decline of the choir... There might be a grain of truth in it. It think it is telling that the two albums are completely liturgical, which is on the one hand a completely fine idea, but on the other hand much easier to fill up. But I have to say - I love the new one. The quality is outstanding. The Palestrina is just perfect, just like Palestrina should be - joyous and in a big cathedral with a lot of reverb. Their recording of Tallis' Loquebantur truely creates the imagery of many languages clashing together. And the psalms are nicely sung. I especially love the falsobordone setting for Psalm 113 from Peter Stevens, their Assistant DOM. Maybe my favorite track of it.

    Just an invitation for you to listen, take inspiration and pray for this important place of Catholic sacred music!
    Thanked by 2Paul F. Ford CHGiffen
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