The Feast of St Michael & All Angels at Westminster Abbey

Featuring

Robert Quinney
James O'Donnell
Francis Brett
Julian Empett
Nicholas Trapp
Benjamin Turner

Julian Stocker
Robert Macdonald
Jacob Ewens
Mark Dobell
Westminster Abbey Choir
Richard Dering
Kenneth Leighton
Charles Villiers Stanford
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Benjamin Britten
Jean Langlais
Michael Tippett
Walter Galpin Alcock
Herbert Howells
Jonathan Harvey

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Album & Artwork

This album reflects the structure of the three major choral services—Matins, Eucharist, and Evensong—that one might hear at Westminster Abbey on the Feast of St Michael and All Angels.

Composer Biography

Notable musicians associated with Westminster Abbey include Orlando Gibbons, Henry Purcell, and John Blow, who served as organists.

Historical Context

The Abbey's choral foundation was established by Elizabeth I's charter of 1560, granting it the status of a 'royal peculiar' under the direct authority of the Crown.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in Westminster Abbey over several days in January and February 2007, featuring The Choir of Westminster Abbey, Robert Quinney on organ, and James O'Donnell conducting.

Historical Context

The Feast of St Michael and All Angels, also known as Michaelmas, falls on September 29th and commemorates the Archangel Michael's battle against the dragon, representing the forces of good against evil.

Historical Context

Westminster Abbey, where this album was recorded, has a history of prayer and worship dating back over a thousand years to its foundation as a Benedictine monastery.