The Magnificat and Nunc dimittis are among the most frequently set texts in the English choral tradition, but few choir directors have hit on the idea of performing collections of these pieces. This release is the second such collection by the Choir of St. John's Cambridge and its director, Andrew Nethsingha, and both clearly show the possibilities inherent in the approach. For those wanting to try out only one for now, Magnificat 2 is the one to pick. This is because it is the more tightly focused of the two, containing ...
Read More
The Magnificat and Nunc dimittis are among the most frequently set texts in the English choral tradition, but few choir directors have hit on the idea of performing collections of these pieces. This release is the second such collection by the Choir of St. John's Cambridge and its director, Andrew Nethsingha, and both clearly show the possibilities inherent in the approach. For those wanting to try out only one for now, Magnificat 2 is the one to pick. This is because it is the more tightly focused of the two, containing pieces from two specific periods, 1932 until 1952 and 1974 until 1989, with one brand new piece by Julian Anderson commemorating the 150th anniversary of the St. John's College Chapel. Thus, the listener can hear not only the progression of styles and their interaction with the long Magnificat tradition but can also take a more intimate look at the composers involved and their individual reactions to the texts. Even within this highly conventional genre, the moods are all over the map....
Read Less
