The first
CD recording of St Matthew’s Choir for over 15 years was
released on St Matthew’s Day, 21 September 2013, at the
evening concert. The disc, which is music for Advent and
Christmas, includes many well-known pieces of music and
some which will probably be new to most listeners.
Included are the much-loved ‘Congregational’ carols O
come, O come, Emmanuel, Hark! the herald angels sing
and O come all ye faithful which are contrasted
with a contemporary setting of Christina Rosetti’s In
the bleak mid-winter by Bob Chilcott and a rip
roaring arrangement of Ding dong! merrily on high.
Also represented, through Richard Rodney Bennett’s carol
Sweet was the song, is
St
Matthew’s Church proud and
distinguished history of commissioning works of new
music and art. This particular work is from a set of
five carols that Bennett penned for the church in 1967,
some of which found national recognition through being
published in the famous Carols for Choirs series.
The disc represents the years since the choir’s
re-founding with girl and boy choristers and adult
Altos, Tenors and Basses, and the hard work which has
taken place under the present Director of Music and his
two predecessors to establish the choir at the forefront
of church music in this country.
Ably supported by Thomas Moore on the renowned 1895
Walker Organ and with the choir directed by Stephen
Moore, this disc is a great opportunity to support the
music making at St Matthew’s and to hear the choir in
your own living room! The CD, which is priced at £10 per
copy, is available through the church at all concerts
and recitals, or by contacting the Director of Music
directly on
01604
791251
or
music@stmatthews-northampton.org.uk.
The Director of Music, Thomas Moore, is
looking to recruit BOYS from school year 4
to 7 and GIRLS from school year 5 upwards
who are keen to sing and eager to learn.