Musique chorale

Description

"The genesis of this album began somewhat by chance. I was recording Vaughan Williams in October 2022 and chatting with our producer, Adrian Peacock, during one of the breaks. We were talking about well-known composers and their neglected works, and conversely about neglected composers and their better-known works. Very quickly, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Hiawatha's Wedding Feast came up in conversation. I remember growing up with an LP recording at home, but I couldn't recall being familiar with any of his other music. Adrian and I reflected on the renewed interest in his music and the many recordings of his chamber, orchestral, and song repertoire released over the previous 12 months. Later that day, I did a quick online search to see what other music—if any—Coleridge-Taylor had written for choirs. Very soon, it became clear that there was a considerable amount, and although published and readily available, almost none of it had been recorded. I hastily ordered a copy of everything I could get my hands on. Over the following weeks, the scores began to arrive. I sat down and played each one on the piano. I was blown away by the variety, skill, and beauty of each of them. It was roughly a 50-50 split between secular and sacred. I was then—and still am—shocked that all the sacred works were unfamiliar to me, especially given the part of my initial musical training in church—cathedral music. With the support of the LCS board and the generous support of its sponsors, we all felt this was a project to move the agenda forward. At the risk of sounding cliché, it was an honor to rediscover many of these pieces and to record them, giving them a platform they all deserve. From the simple, understated tones of Whispers of Summer at one end of the spectrum, to the quasi-cantata grandeur of Now late on the Sabbath Day, this is music that deserves to be known, and everyone will appreciate it." --- Michael Waldron ---.