From 1933 to 1961, William Henry Harris served British royalty as organist at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, and he composed a large amount of organ and choral music for the many services under his direction. Later knighted, but known affectionately to his choristers as "Doc H," Harris acquired a reputation for composing solidly crafted and conservative anthems, 12 of which are presented on this 2006 release in Naxos' series of English Church Music. The most familiar of these pieces -- composed in the manner of ...
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From 1933 to 1961, William Henry Harris served British royalty as organist at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, and he composed a large amount of organ and choral music for the many services under his direction. Later knighted, but known affectionately to his choristers as "Doc H," Harris acquired a reputation for composing solidly crafted and conservative anthems, 12 of which are presented on this 2006 release in Naxos' series of English Church Music. The most familiar of these pieces -- composed in the manner of Hubert Parry's choral works -- are Faire is the heav'n and Bring us, O Lord God, though most are infrequently performed, and some appear for the first time on CD. In reverent performances by the Choir of St. George's Chapel, directed by Timothy Byram-Wigfield and accompanied on organ by Roger Judd, Harris' music is consistently devotional and quite gentle in character; and there is an unexpected intimacy to these sacred pieces that seems better suited to quiet Anglican services than to...
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