The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge, aims for an 'inwardness of expression' (Innigkeit) in psalms, drawing parallels to Morton Feldman's music, which seeks to 'tint the air' rather than push forward dynamically.
Historical Context
The Book of Psalms likely reached its final form between the fifth and fourth centuries BCE, after the Jewish people were released from Babylonian captivity.
Compositional Technique
Psalm chants often create a musical equivalent of rhyming couplets, with the first and third musical phrases containing four chords, and the second and fourth phrases consisting of six chords.
Cultural Impact
Myles Coverdale's 1535 translation of the psalms, used in the Book of Common Prayer, is considered part of the DNA of the English language, alongside Shakespeare and the King James Bible.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded across several dates between April 2018 and January 2022 in St John's College Chapel, Cambridge.
Performer Biography
Andrew Nethsingha, the Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge, was a chorister at Exeter Cathedral under his father's direction and later held organ scholarships under notable figures Christopher Robinson and George Guest.
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