Christmas Music from St. Michael's, Tenbury

Back in September I presented one of the few recordings made by the Choir of St. Michael's, Tenbury. Now here is the final album from that English ensemble, a 1984 Christmas record made shortly before the choir school's closing.

It's a fine program, covering both familiar carols and newer material, with an emphasis on music and adaptations by English composers, who include Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, David Willcocks, Walford Davies, William Mathias, John Tavener, Patrick Hadley and Kenneth Leighton. The title song, "Torches," is by John Joubert. The school's music director, Roger Judd, contributed two arrangements.

Roger Judd

Judd was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and had been assistant organist of Ely Cathedral before his tenure at St. Michael's. Following the school's closing, he became assistant organist of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, where he accompanied the Chapel choir in its services, broadcasts, concerts and recordings. He retired from St. George's in 2008.

This record was issued by an EMI-affiliated budget label, Classics for Pleasure. It was among the first records supervised by the noted classical producer Andrew Keener. You may notice that the back cover credits the engineering to a certain "Mr. Bear" - a nom du disque for Mike Clements. The sonics are pleasing.

If you appreciate the sound of better-known English choirs such as King's College, Cambridge, you will likely enjoy this record. Coming from 1984, it's outside my usual time frame, but I transferred it as the result of a request by long-time blog follower A N Other.