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.

Anthems from St. Michael's College, Tenbury

The most famous boys' choir in England is surely that of King's College, Cambridge, which has appeared on this site a few times. But there are - or in this case were - other such choirs. This record is a rare outing for the Choir of St. Michael's College, Tenbury, in west central England.

The King's College Choir dates back to the 15th century, but St. Michael's was founded much closer to our own time - in 1856 by Sir Frederick Ouseley, a composer and cleric who wanted to preserve the performance of Anglican church music.

Unfortunately, Ouseley's vision lasted only 130 years - the school closed in 1985, and its buildings are now used by a boarding school for international students, King's College Saint Michaels. Before closing, the choir school did produce at least four LPs. This album was, I believe, its first, being recorded in 1964 and released the following year on Argo records.

Vintage postcard

Sing Joyfully contains a selection of anthems ranging from the 16th century to more recent times. The first side include music by Thomas Tallis, Thomas Morley, Christopher Tye, William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons, along with an anonymous work that was thought to be by John Redford when the record was made. The second side begins with a brief work from Ouseley, continuing with music by Herbert Murrill, Charles Stanford, Hubert Parry, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten.

The choir does well under the experienced direction of Lucian Nethsingha, who was later at Exeter Cathedral for many years. Nethsingha's son, Andrew, is now the music director at St. John's College, Cambridge. Argo's sound is closer than you typically hear with such programs, but nonetheless pleasing.

This post is the result of a request on a classical forum by a former teacher at St. Michael's College. I also have a Christmas LP released the year before the choir school's closing. I plan to present that record during the upcoming holiday season.

Group portrait, 1960s

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