Elgar wrote a remarkable amount of choral music ranging from the small-scale to the huge oratorios. Most choral singers will be familiar with his remarkable unaccompanied choral gems, Owls and There is Sweet Music, but there are plenty more for those wanting to explore and William Vann and the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital are keen for us to hear them.
In 2022, they released The Reeds by Severn Side on SOMM, a selection of 18 gems (including six first recordings) ranging from his juvenilia such as the 16-year-old Elgar’s Credo on Themes from Symphonies 5, 7 and 9 by Beethoven (in James Olsen’s completion) and Drake’s Broughton, through his Roman Catholic and Anglican liturgical music to Queen Alexandra’s Memorial Ode (So many true princesses who have gone) from 1932.
Now they plan to return to the studio for a further selection including five world premiere recordings, the hymns Stabat Mater and Praise ye the Lord, Psalm 51, and two versions of O Salutaris Hostia, along with major sacred choral works including Great is the Lord and two choruses from The Light of Life, plus more of his major part songs.
They have a CrowdFunder going to help cover recording costs, see CrowdFunder website for details.
