23 Favorite Hymns

• Main performer: Norwich Cathedral Choir
• Booklet languages: English
• Time: 78:55
• Release Date: 2006

Review

The Choir of Norwich Cathedral offers a straightforward account of some of the most popular Anglican hymns. The choir of men and boys sings with full, pure tone and a smooth legato. The legato is so effectively executed, however, that given the resonance of the Cathedral, the words are occasionally so run together as to be difficult to understand. Director Neil Taylor takes a slow tempo for most hymns, giving them a reverential weightiness that can feel ponderous by the third or fourth verse. The choir works to alleviate the tedium that can result from the relentless four-part harmony by giving some verses to the men only, some to the boys only, some to smaller groups of soloists, and by having some unaccompanied. The choir sings most, if not all, the verses of each of the hymns. Simon Johnson provides a self-effacing organ accompaniment. The sound conveys the natural ambience of the Cathedral, giving the performances a sense of grandeur, as well as some murkiness. This collection should be of interest to anyone seeking a simple and unadorned performance of these familiar hymns. ~ Stephen Eddins, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
John Goss	Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven	3:02
Arthur H. Brown	Just as I am, without one plea (tune Saffron Walden)	3:54
Johann Abraham Peter Schulz	We plough the fields and scatter	3:33
John Bacchus Dykes	Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty (Tune: Nicaea), for chorus & organ	3:27
George Smart	Through All the Changing Scenes of Life	2:17
Arthur Sullivan	St. Gertrude ("Onward, Christian soldiers"), hymn for chorus	3:24
William Henry Monk	Abide with me (Tune: Eventide)	4:40
John Barnard	Christ triumphant, ever reigning (tune: Guiting Power), hymn	3:26
Thomas Olivers	The God of Abraham praise	3:15
Sydney Nicholson	Lift High the Cross (Crucifer), hymn	4:08
Sydney Nicholson	We sing the praise of him who died (tune: Bow Brickhill), hymn	3:29
Jessie Seymour Irvine	The Lord's My Shepherd, hymn ("Crimond")	3:12
John Bacchus Dykes	Eternal Father, strong to save (Navy Hymn or Melita)	3:09
Richard Huw Pritchard	Alleluya, sing to Jesus (Tune: Hyfrydol) (New English Hymnal 271)	4:56
Edwin George Monk	Angel Voices Ever Singing	3:11
Irish Traditional	Be Thou My Vision	2:59
John Bacchus Dykes	Praise to the Holiest in the Height	3:48
Anonymous, Lyra Davidica	Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, hymn	2:28
William Croft	O Worship the King	2:26
Benjamin Milgrove	For all thy saints, O Lord (tune Mount Ephraim), No. 224	4:27
Jeremiah Clarke	Hymn "The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns"	2:31
John Yoakley	Lift up your hearts! (Tune: All Souls)	3:20
Herbert Howells	All my hope on God is founded (tune: Michael), for chorus	3:53

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