This album is the fifth recording for Naxos by the Choir of St John's, Elora, which has toured internationally to venues like St Paul's Cathedral and Windsor Castle.
Performer Biography
Noel Edison, the director of the Choir of St John's, Elora, also conducts the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Elora Festival Singers, and has received the Order of Ontario.
Historical Context
The Psalms have long been central to Jewish and Christian worship, appearing in various forms from ancient Temple chanting to Catholic Mass and Protestant services.
Composer Biography
William Crotch, whose setting of Psalm 47 opens this recording, was an infant prodigy who became the first principal of the Royal Academy of Music in 1822.
Composition History
Francis Poulenc's Four Motets for a Time of Penitence were written after his return to the Catholic faith, influenced by a friend's death and a visit to a pilgrimage church.
Composer Biography
John Tavener, a British composer, was deeply influenced by Eastern Christianity and became a member of the Orthodox Church in 1977.
Compositional Technique
Anglican chant, used for singing Psalms in the Church of England, developed a flexible musical structure to accommodate the varying line lengths of the Psalm texts.
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