BEST SACRED 100
The six discs cover different genres of sacred music:
CD 1 - 500 YEARS OF SACRED MUSIC
GREGORIAN CHANT
1 Sub tuum praesidium
Monks & Choir of Downside Abbey
David Lawson & Dom Dunstan O’Keeffe - (P) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd
ALLEGRI
2 Miserere mei, Deus (vv.1–4 & 17–20)
Timothy Beasley-Murray treble, Gerald Finley cantor
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1984
DUNSTABLE
3 Veni Sancte Spiritus
Hilliard Ensemble directed by Paul Hillier - (P) 1984/1987* EMI Electrola GmbH
TALLIS
4 O nata lux
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir Philip Ledger - (P) 1982/1994* DDD
SHEPPARD
5 Verbum caro factum est
Clerkes of Oxenford / David Wulstan - (P) 1978/1993*
GIOVANNI GABRIELI
6 Buccinate in neomenia tuba
Ambrosian Singers ∙ Barry Rose organ / String & Brass Ensemble / Denis Stevens - (P) 1970/2007*
LUIS DE VICTORIA
7 O magnum mysterium
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir David Willcocks - (P) 1965/2007*
BYRD
8 Ave verum corpus
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir David Willcocks - (P) 1965/2007*
PALESTRINA
9 Tu es Petrus
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir David Willcocks - (P) 1965/2004*
DUFAY
10 Missa ‘L’homme armé’ − Kyrie
Hilliard Ensemble directed by Paul Hillier - (P) 1987
LASSUS
11 Missa super ‘Bell’ Amfitrit’ altera’ − Gloria
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge / George Guest
(P) 1991
TYE
12 Missa ‘Euge bone’ − Credo
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir Philip Ledger - (P) 1982/1995*
ISAAC
13 Missa Paschale − Sanctus
Hilliard Ensemble directed by Paul Hillier - (P) 1983 EMI Electrola GmbH - Recorded in co-production with WDR
BYRD
14 Mass a 4 − Agnus Dei
Hilliard Ensemble directed by Paul Hillier - (P) 1984
JOSQUIN
15 Absalon, fili mi
Hilliard Ensemble directed by Paul Hillier - (P) 1984
GIBBONS
16 Hosanna to the son of David
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir David Willcocks - (P) 1965/2004*
TALLIS
17 Spem in alium
Taverner Choir ∙ Wim Becu bass sackbut
Paul Nicholson & Alan Wilson organs / Andrew Parrott - (P) 1989 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
CD 2 - SACRED GLORIES OF THE BAROQUE
VIVALDI
1 Gloria RV589 - Gloria in excelsis Deo
2 Laudamus te
Sarah Fox & Deborah Norman sopranos
Choir of King’s College Cambridge ∙ Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Cleobury - (P) 2000
J. S. BACH
3 Magnificat in D BWV243 − Magnificat anima mea
Choir of King’s College Cambridge ∙ Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Cleobury - (P) 2000
HANDEL
4 Messiah − For unto us a child is born (ed. Basil Lam)
Ambrosian Singers, English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras - (P) 1967/1989*
J. S. BACH
5 Christmas Oratorio BWV248 − Bereite dich, Zion
Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano), Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Philip Ledger
(P) 1977/1996
HANDEL
6 Zadok the Priest (Coronation Anthem)
Choir of King’s College Cambridge ∙ Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Cleobury - (P) 2000
J. S. BACH
7 Mass in B minor - Cum sancto spiritu
8 Et incarnatus est
Chor & Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks / Eugen Jochum - (P) 1982
9 O Mensch, bewein dein’ Sünde gross (Chorale prelude) BWV622
Peter Hurford at the organ of the Martinikerk, Groningen, Holland - (P) 1993
10 Zion hört die Wächter singen (Cantata BWV140)
South German Madrigal Choir, Consortium Musicum / Wolfgang Gönnenwein -
(P) 1967/1995* EMI Electrola GmbH
11 St Matthew Passion − Erbarme dich, mein Gott
Stephanie Blythe contralto, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris / John Nelson - (P) 2001 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
12 Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring) (Cantata BWV147)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir David Willcocks - (P) 1972/1989*
PURCELL
13 Thou knowest, Lord (Funeral Music for Queen Mary) Z58c
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Philip Jones Brass Ensemble / Sir Philip Ledger
(P) 1977/1989*
14 Hear my prayer, O Lord Z15
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir Philip Ledger
(P) 1977/1991*
HASSLER harm. J. S. BACH
15 St Matthew Passion − O sacred head, sore wounded (Passion Chorale)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir David Willcocks - (P) 1973/1994*
LOTTI
16 Crucifixus a 8
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir Philip Ledger - (P) 1978/1994*
HANDEL
Messiah (ed. Basil Lam)
17 I know that my redeemer liveth
18 Hallelujah Chorus
Elizabeth Harwood soprano ∙ Ambrosian Singers
English Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras
(P) 1967/1987*
CD 3 - MOZART, HAYDN & BEETHOVEN
MOZART
Requiem in D minor (ed. Beyer) K626
1 Introit: Requiem aeternam
2 Kyrie
3 Lacrimosa dies illa
Felicity Lott soprano
London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra / Franz Welser-Möst
(P) 1990
4 Vesperae solennes de confessore K339 − Laudate Dominum
Barbara Hendricks soprano ∙ Academy Chorus
Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner
(P) 1987 EMI Music France
5 Regina coeli K127 − Regina coeli
Kölner Kammerchor ∙ Collegium Cartusianum / Peter Neumann
(P) 1989 EMI Electrola GmbH
6 Mass in C minor K427 − Laudamus te
Kiri Te Kanawa soprano
New Philharmonia Orchestra / Raymond Leppard
(P) 1974/1986*
7 Mass in C ‘Coronation’ K317 − Benedictus
Edda Moser soprano ∙ Julia Hamari mezzo-soprano
Nicolai Gedda (tenor) ∙ Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Chor und Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Eugen Jochum
(P) 1977/1986*
8 Exsultate jubilate K165 − Alleluia
Lucia Popp soprano
English Chamber Orchestra / Georg Fischer
(P) 1967/1988*
9 Ave verum corpus K618
Swedish Radio Chorus ∙ Stockholm Chamber Choir
Berliner Philharmoniker / Riccardo Muti
(P) 1990
HAYDN
The Creation (ed. Temperley)
10 With verdure clad
11 The heavens are telling
Arleen Augér soprano ∙ Philip Langridge tenor ∙ David Thomas bass
CBSO Chorus ∙ City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle
(P) 1991
Mass No.11 in D minor ‘Nelson’
12 Kyrie
13 Gloria in excelsis Deo
Margaret Marshall & Christine Schönknecht sopranos 0
Carolyn Watkinson contralto ∙ Keith Lewis tenor ∙ Robert Holl bass
Leipzig Radio Chorus ∙ Dresden Staatskapelle / Sir Neville Marriner - (P) 1987
BEETHOVEN
14 Mass in C Op.86 − Kyrie
Elly Ameling soprano, Dame Janet Baker mezzo-soprano
Theo Altmeyer tenor, Marius Rintzler bass
New Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra / Carlo Maria Giulini - (P) 1971/1990*
15 Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur (Die Himmel rühmen)
Op.48 No.4 (orch. Felix Mottl)
New Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra / Wilhelm Pitz - (P) 1967/1994*
16 Missa solemnis Op.123 − Gloria
Carol Vaness soprano, Waltraud Meier contralto
Hans Peter Blochwitz tenor, Hans Tschammer bass
Tallis Chamber Choir ∙ English Chamber Orchestra / Jeffrey Tate - (P) 1990
CD 4 - FRENCH SACRED CLASSICS
MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER
1 Te Deum in D − Prelude
Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Philip Ledger - (P) 1978/1992*
BACH-GOUNOD
2 Ave Maria
Dame Janet Baker mezzo-soprano
Sir Philip Ledger at the organ of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge - (P) 1981/1988*
GOUNOD
Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile
3 Credo (opening)
4 Sanctus
Laurence Dale tenor, Chœurs de Radio-France
Nouvelle Orchestre Philharmonique / Georges Prêtre
(P) 1984 EMI Music France
BERLIOZ
5 L’Enfance du Christ − The Shepherds’ Farewell
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1990
6 Te Deum − Tu, Christe, Rex gloriae ()
Marie-Claire Alain at the great organ Cavaillé-Coll of La Madeleine, Paris
Chœur de l’Orchestre de Paris, Chœur d’enfants de l’Union Européenne & Maîtrise d’Antony, Orchestre de Paris / John Nelson - (P) 2001 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
FAURÉ
7 Requiem Op.48 (ed. John Rutter) − Pie Jesu
Nancy Argenta soprano ∙ Stephen Farr organ, Bournemouth Sinfonietta / David Hill
(P) 1998 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
DURUFLÉ
8 Ubi caritas Op.10 No.1
Winchester Cathedral Choir / David Hill
(P) 1998 Floating Earth under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
FAURÉ
9 Cantique de Jean Racine Op.11
Winchester Cathedral Choir ∙ Stephen Farr organ / David Hill
(P) 1998 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
FRANCK
10 Panis angelicus (arr. Gustave Sandré)
Hallé Choir & Orchestra / Maurice Handford - (P) 1981/1988*
POULENC
11 Gloria − Laudamus te
Chœurs de Radio France, Orchestre National de France / Georges Prêtre - (P) 1989
12 Vinea mea electa (Four Motets for a Time of Penitence)
The Sixteen / Harry Christophers - (P) 1990 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
BOËLLMANN
13 Prière à Notre-Dame (Suite gothique, Op.25)
Fredric Bayco at the organ of Holy Trinity Church, Paddington, London - (P) 1965/1988*
MESSIAEN
14 O sacrum convivium
London Voices / Terry Edwards – (P) 1990 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
DURUFLÉ
Requiem (reduced orchestration version)
15 Sanctus
16 Libera me
Olaf Bär baritone ∙ Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Peter Barley organ ∙ English Chamber Orchestra / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1989
FAURÉ
17 Requiem Op.48 − In paradisum
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir David Willcocks
(P) 1968/1997*
CD 5 - ROMANTIC SACRED MASTERPIECES
HUMMEL
1 Mass in E flat Op.80 − Sanctus
Stuttgart Hymnus Boys’ Choir
Werner Keltsch Instrumental Ensemble / Gerhard Wilhelm
(P) 1971/1988* EMI Electrola GmbH
MENDELSSOHN
Elijah
2 O rest in the Lord
3 And then shall your light break forth
Dame Janet Baker mezzo-soprano
New Philharmonia Orchestra / Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos - (P) 1968/1988*
ROSSINI
4 Stabat mater − Cujus animam
Robert Gambill tenor
Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Riccardo Muti - (P) 1982
SCHUBERT
5 Gott ist mein Hirt (Psalm 23) D706
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger piano - (P) 1975/2004*
6 Deutsche Messe D872 − Heilig, heilig, heilig
Chor & Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - (P) 1982
7 Ave Maria (arr. Christfried Bickenbach)
Anneliese Rothenberger soprano, Graunke Symphony Orchestra / Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
(P) 1967/1988* EMI Electrola GmbH
ELGAR
8 Ave verum corpus Op.2 No.1
Choir of Worcester Cathedral, Harry Bramma organ, Christopher Robinson - (P) 1969/1996*
KARG-ELERT
9 Now thank we all our God
Sir Philip Ledger at the organ of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge - (P) 1982
BRUCKNER
10 Ave Maria
New Philharmonia Chorus / Wilhelm Pitz - (P) 1967/2003*
BALFOUR GARDINER
11 Evening Hymn (Te lucis ante terminum)
Thomas Trotter (organ)
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus / Simon Halsey (P) 2006 EMI Records Ltd
VERDI
Messa da Requiem
12 Recordare
13 Ingemisco
14 Lux aeterna
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf soprano ∙ Christa Ludwig mezzo-soprano
Nicolai Gedda tenor ∙ Nicolai Ghiaurov bass, Philharmonia Orchestra / Carlo Maria Giulini
(P) 1964/1997*
BRAHMS
15 Ein deutsches Requiem Op.45 − Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen
BBC Symphony Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra / Klaus Tennstedt - (P) 1985
PUCCINI
Messa di Gloria
16 Gloria in excelsis Deo – In terra pax – Laudamus te
London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Antonio Pappano - (P) 2001
PARRY
17 I was glad
Cambridge University Musical Society Chorus, Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Band of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall
New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Philip Ledger - (P) 1977/1988*
CD 6 - SACRED FAVOURITES OF MODERN TIMES
JENKINS
1 The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace − Agnus Dei
National Youth Choir of Great Britain musical director: Mike Brewer
Paul Beniston principal trumpet
London Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl Jenkins
(P) 2001 Karl Jenkins Music Ltd under exclusive licence to Virgin Records Ltd
From the album ‘The Armed Man (A Mass for Peace)’
STRAVINSKY
2 Ave Maria
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1997
BERNSTEIN
Chichester Psalms (reduced scoring with organ, harp and percussion)
3 I. Maestoso ma energico – Allegro molto
Michael Pearce treble ∙ Peter Winn alto ∙ John Bowley tenor
Daniel Sladden bass ∙ Peter Barley organ
Rachel Masters harp ∙ David Corkhill percussion
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1991
LLOYD WEBBER
4 Pie Jesu (Requiem)
Jane Gilchrist soprano ∙ Fergus Thirlwell boy soprano ∙ Simon Gibson organ
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra / Kirk Trevor - (P) 2004
PRIZEMAN
5 Voca Me
Libera
Joseph Platt, Christopher Robson & Anthony Chadney soloists
Arranged and directed by Robert Prizeman - (P) 2004 Robert Prizeman under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd
KASHIF
6 Ave Maria (arr. Tolga Kashif & Julian Kershaw)
(Additional programming by Steven Price)
Lesley Garrett soprano ∙ Julian Leang treble ∙ Clare Singers
Orchestra conducted by Philip Ellis - (P) 2001
Julian Leang appears by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
7 Mass in G minor − Kyrie
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir David Willcocks - (P) 1969/1989*
GÓRECKI
8 Totus tuus Op.60
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1994
PÄRT
9 Magnificat (1989)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1994
RACHMANINOV
10 Ave Maria (Vespers, Op.37)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1999
TAVENER
11 Song for Athene
Winchester Cathedral Choir / David Hill - (P) 1998 Floating Earth Ltd under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
BURGON
12 Nunc Dimittis
Paul Miles-Kingston treble ∙ Crispian Steele-Perkins trumpet, Martin Neary organ - (P) 1985
RUTTER
13 Requiem − Requiem aeternam
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, City of London Sinfonia / Stephen Cleobury - (P) 1998
BARBER
14 Agnus Dei (Adagio for strings)
Winchester Cathedral Choir / David Hill
(P) 1998 Floating Earth under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
JENKINS
15 The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace − Benedictus
National Youth Choir of Great Britain musical director: Mike Brewer
Guy Johnston cello, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl Jenkins
(P) 2001 Karl Jenkins Music Ltd under exclusive licence to Virgin Records Ltd
From the album ‘The Armed Man (A Mass for Peace)’
The “100 BEST” series continues its incredible success - over 2 million sales to date - with 100 BEST SACRED WORKS
This 6CD collection features the greatest sacred music through the ages. From Byrd to Barber via Brahms this collection provides a fascinating insight into the evolution of sacred music.
One of the most comprehensive and best value sets in the market.
EMI 6cds 3825912