The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford

Program: #94-11 Air Date: Mar 14, 1994

00:00

NOTE: Our guest for this program is the long-time conductor of the Choir of Magdalen College Oxford, Bill Ives.

This program is Free for all, thanks to this generous Preservation Grant:

Preservation of this program is made possible by a generous grant in memory of Susan Perrott Coar.

I. The English Anthem Collection from Oxford (Choir of Magdalen College Oxford/John Harper). Alto 4 CD ALC 4001.

The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, was founded in 1480. Magdalen College was then one of the oldest and largest choral foundations in late medieval England. That historic legacy has been preserved and maintained over five centuries. The Choir exists primarily to sing the daily church services in Magdalen College Chapel. They also sing at a number of special occasions throughout the year, including the famous May Day celebrations, an ancient tradition dating back to 1509.

In recent years Magdalen College Choir has toured Japan, USA, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Germany and France; concert appearances have included the BBC Proms and Cadogan Hall. Recent orchestral performances have included collaborations with Phantasm, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Britten Sinfonia and the Academy of Ancient Music; the Choir also features on a number of recent film soundtracks. The earliest recordings of the Choir date from the 1960s, under the legendary directorship of Dr. Bernard Rose. More recently, a series of discs on the Harmonia Mundi label saw a nomination in 2004 for a Gramophone Award.

1	O Lord turn Thy wrath	William Byrd	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	08:16
2	Teach me, O Lord	William Byrd	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:39
3	Exalt thyself, O God	William Byrd	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:43
4	Out of the Deep	Thomas Morley	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:56
5	Nolo mortem peccatoris	Thomas Morley	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	02:58
6	The Lord' Prayer	John Farmer	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	01:39
7	Hide not thy face	Richard Farrant	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	01:40
8	Blessed art Thou	Philip van Wilder	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:02
9	I will exalt Thee	Christopher Tye	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	05:46
10	I call and cry to Thee	Thomas Tallis	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:46
11	Purge me, O Lord	Thomas Tallis	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	01:56
12	O Lord, give Thy Holy Spirit	Thomas Tallis	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	01:45
13	The Lord' Prayer	John Sheppard	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:50
14	Sing joyfully unto God	William Byrd	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:05
15	O Lord in Thy wrath (rebuke me not)	Orlando Gibbons	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:16
16	O Lord, I lift my heart to Thee	Orlando Gibbons	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	01:48
17	Hosanna to the Son of David	Thomas Weelkes	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	02:09
18	O Lord, arise (into Thy resting peace)	Thomas Weelkes	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:16
19	Then David mourned	Les Tomkins / Thomas Tomkins	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:18
20	O praise the Lord, all ye Heathen	Les Tomkins / Thomas Tomkins	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:09
21	My God, my God, look upon me	John Blow	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:34
22	I was glad (when they said unto me)	Henry Purcell	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:21

Track Listing - Disc 2

1	Hear my prayer (O Lord)	Henry Purcell	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	02:22
2	O God, Thou has cast us out	Henry Purcell	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:10
3	Remember not, O Lord (our offences)	Henry Purcell	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:07
4	God is gone up	William Croft	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:20
5	Lord, let me know mine end	Maurice Greene	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	06:12
6	O where shall wisdom be found	William Boyce	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	07:04
7	Lord, look down from Heaven	Jonathan Battishill	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:12
8	Come Holy Ghost, (our souls inspire)	Thomas Attwood	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:33
9	Blessed be the God and Father	Samuel Sebastian Wesley	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	08:14
10	Is it nothing to you?	Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:03
11	O Saviour of the world	Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	02:47
12	The wilderness	Samuel Sebastian Wesley	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	14:39
13	I saw the Lord	John Stainer	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	07:44

Track Listing - Disc 3

1	The Lord's my shepherd	Charles Villiers Stanford	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	10:33
2	Glorious and powerful God	Charles Villiers Stanford	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:41
3	My soul, there is a country	Hubert Parry	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:58
4	O Thou, the central orb	Charles Wood	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:48
5	Hail, gladdening light	Charles Wood	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:10
6	Expectans expectavi	Charles Wood	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:18
7	Blessed City, heavenly Salem	Edward Bairstow	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	09:48
8	Let all mortal flesh keep silence	Edward Bairstow	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:25
9	Greater love hath no man	John Ireland	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	06:14
10	Whitsunday hymn	Ralph Vaughan Williams	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:51
11	Welcome, sweet and sacred feast	Gerald Finzi	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	08:05
12	The Evening-Watch	Gustav Holst	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:15
13	Like as the hart	Herbert Howells	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	05:37

Track Listing - Disc 4

1	Set me as a seal (upon Thine hearth)	William Walton	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:20
2	King of Glory, King of Peace	Roy James Stewart	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:45
3	Praise ye the Lord	Bernard Rose	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	02:36
4	O Lord, the maker of al thing	John Joubert	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:39
5	Hymn to St. Peter	Benjamin Britten	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	05:36
6	Bring us, O Lord God	William H. Harris	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:20
7	Come, Holy Ghost	Jonathan Harvey	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford
8	The Tree	Jonathan Harvey	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:12
9	Thee will I love	Herbert Howells	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	05:40
10	Come, my soul	Herbert Howells	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:11
11	Thou hast made me	Lennox Berkeley	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	06:22
Hymns (2) to the Mother of God
12	Hymn to the Mother of God	John Tavener	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:26
13	Verses I	Richard Rodney Bennett	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	01:41
14	Verses II	Richard Rodney Bennett	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	02:10
15	Verses III	Richard Rodney Bennett	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	02:33
16	Salve Regina	John Harper	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:37
17	Ubi caritas	John Harper	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	04:11
18	Drop, drop, slow tears	Kenneth Leighton	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	03:01
19	Give me the wings of faith	Kenneth Leighton	John Harper / Magdalen College Choir, Oxford	05:08

II. Music for a May Morning (Choir of Magdalen College Oxford/Bill Ives). Recording no longer available.

Music for a May Morning

One of the great traditions in Oxford is that of May Morning, the time when the city celebrates the coming of Spring. Since the early 16th century, the first day of May has begun at 6am with Magdalen College Choir singing from the top of the Great Tower, welcoming the rising sun. The occasion typically attracts crowds of thousands of people to the High Street below, bringing together Oxford's communities to enjoy dancing, singing and revelry, and to listen to the Choir from the foot of the Tower.

1	Dawn chorus and College bells [Stedman Caters] choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor:Grayston Ives	(Beginning of touch)	1:56
2	O lusty May choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	[anonymous]	1:42
3	Contrapunto bestiale alla mente choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Adriano Banchieri	1:16
4	Ah Robin choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Ah Robin, Gentle Robin composer: William Cornysh (the younger)	William Cornyshe	2:10
5	Sumer is icumen in choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Sumer is icumen in composer: [anonymous] (Special Purpose Artist)	Reading Rota (13th century)	2:53
6	Watkins Ale choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Watkins Ale (English ballad B494) orchestrator: William Byrd (English composer) lyricist: English anon. XVIth. Cent. (Special Purpose Artist) composer: [traditional] (Special Purpose Artist)	[anonymous]	0:52
7	Since first I saw your face choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Thomas Ford	2:23
8	The Fairy Round choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Anthony Holborne	1:27
9	Dindirin, dindirin (c.1500) choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	[anonymous]	1:40
10	Now is the month of Maying choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Now Is the Month of Maying composer: Thomas Morley (composer) referred to in medleys: English Heritage Medley later translated versions: Printempas	Thomas Morley	1:29
11	A Gigge choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	John Bull	0:45
12	The Welsh Allemaine choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	[anonymous]	1:37
13	Au joli jeu choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Au joly jeu composer: Clément Janequin	Clément Janequin	1:24
14	Tanzen und Springen choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Hans Leo Hassler	1:18
15	Sellinger's Round choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	William Byrd	3:25
16	Who shall win my lady fair? choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Robert Lucas Pearsall	2:28
17	O mistress mine choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Ralph Vaughan Williams	1:18
18	Begone, dull care! choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Benjamin Britten	1:00
19	Amo amas, I love a lass choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	[anonymous]	1:59
20	The King's hunt choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	John Bull	2:43
21	Foresters sound the cheerful horn choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Foresters, Sound the Cheerful Horn lyricist: John Petre composer: Sir Henry Rowley Bishop	Sir Henry Rowley Bishop	1:41
22	When evening's twilight choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: When Evening's Twilight composer: John Liptrot Hatton (composer)	John Liptrot Hatton	1:44
23	Paduana Lacrimae choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck	5:33
24	Three Hungarian Folksongs choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Three Hungarian Folksongs composer: Mátyás Seiber (composer)	Mátyás Seiber	3:58
25	Over hill, over dale choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives recording of: Three Shakespeare Songs: Over hill, over dale lyricist: William Shakespeare (English poet and playwright) composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams (English composer) (in 1951) part of: Three Shakespeare Songs	Ralph Vaughan Williams	1:12
26	She moved through the fair choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Daryl Runswick	3:45
27	Bobby Shaftoe choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Gordon Langford	1:27
28	The Lark choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Richard Rodney Bennett	1:16
29	How shall I then describe my Love? choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Thomas Ford	2:39
30	Lute Galliard no.17 choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Anthony Holborne	2:13
31	Hymnus Eucharisticus choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	Benjamin Rogers	3:08
32	The College bells choir vocals: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford conductor: Grayston Ives	[no artist]	3:06

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Composer Info

William Byrd (1543-1623) , Thomas Morley (ca. 1557-1602), John Farmer (ca. 1570- after 1601), Richard Farrant (1525-1580), Philip van Wilder (1500-1553), Christopher Tye (1505-1572), Thomas Tallis (ca. 1505- 1585), John Sheppard (1515-1558), Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), Thomas Weelkes (1575-1623) , Les Tomkins, Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656), John Blow (1649-1708), Henry Purcell (1659-1695), William Croft (1678-1727), Maurice Greene (1696-1755), William Boyce (1711-1779), Jonathan Battishill (1738-1801), Thomas Attwood (1765-1838), Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876), Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley (1825-1889), John Stainer (1840-1901), Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924), Hubert Parry (1848-1918), Charles Wood (1886-1926), Edward Bairstow (1874-1946), John Ireland (1879-1962), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), Gerald Finzi (1901-1956), Gustav Holst (1874-1934), Herbert Howells (1892-1983), William Walton (1902-1983), Roy James Stewart, Bernard Rose (1916-1996), John Joubert (1927-2019), Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), William H. Harris (1883-1973), Jonathan Harvey (1939-2012), Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989), John Tavener (1944-2013), Richard Rodney Bennett (1936-2012), Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988), Adriano Banchieri (1568-1634), William Cornyshe (1470-1523), Thomas Ford (1580-1648), Anthony Holborne (1545-1602), Thomas Morley (1557-1602), John Bull (1562-1628), Clément Janequin (1485-1558), Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612), Robert Lucas Pearsall (1795-1856), Sir Henry Rowley Bishop (1786-1855), John Liptrot Hatton (1808-1886), Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621), Mátyás Seiber (1905-1960), Daryl Runswick (1946-), Gordon Langford (1930-2017) , Benjamin Rogers,

CD Info

Alto 4 CD ALC 4001,

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