Anna Lapwood – Celestial Dawn (2022) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Anna Lapwood – Celestial Dawn (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:02:57 minutes | 1,01 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Signum Records

This album is the second commercial release by the two renowned Pembroke College choral ensembles (the Chapel Choir and the Pembroke College Girls’ Choir) under the direction of Anna Lapwood. It is a unique collection of classical and contemporary choral works, some newly arranged pieces recorded for the first time, and premieres of new works.The Pembroke College Girls’ Choir is of a quite recent vintage, having been founded by director Anna Lapwood in 2018. Although based at Cambridge University’s Pembroke College, it consists not of university students but of girls ages 11 to 18, gathered from secondary schools in the area. The singers’ vocal blend is impeccable, even under pandemic-time social distancing restrictions. The album was recorded in the Pembroke College Chapel, which necessitated certain adjustments to the chapel’s organ, and as Lapwood puts it, “the more familiar choral staples on this album won’t necessarily sound exactly as they’re expected to in the English choral tradition. They do, however, sound like the Pembroke choral tradition, and, for me, that was the important thing.” That exemplifies the whole attitude here. The sound is traditional but has an entirely novel flavor, even over and beyond the fact that the choir consists of girls rather than boys. Especially ingenious is the program, quite characteristic of the values and tastes of young people. It mixes Mendelssohn and other traditional fare with a variety of contemporary material, including works by both Nadia and Lili Boulanger and Harry T. Burleigh (whose O Perfect Love shows few signs of African American vernacular influence). Burleigh’s output remains largely unexplored except for some spiritual arrangements, and this is a valuable work to have. Lapwood indicates that a subsidiary aim of Celestial Dawn, beyond redressing the imbalance between boys and girls in the English choral tradition, is to bring into circulation some lesser-known pieces, and she has really done yeoman’s (or yeo-woman’s) work in finding these, getting the girl choristers to connect with them, and incorporating them into an essentially traditional program. Sample and consider Light of the World by jazz composer John Dankworth. An entirely distinctive release that will be treasured by lovers of English choral singing. – James Manheim

Tracklist:

1-1. Anna Lapwood – Cantique (02:11)
1-2. Anna Lapwood – Light of the World (02:21)
1-3. Anna Lapwood – Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: I. Magnificat (03:40)
1-4. Anna Lapwood – Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: II. Nunc Dimittis (03:10)
1-5. Anna Lapwood – If With All Your Hearts (02:20)
1-6. Anna Lapwood – O Perfect Love (03:43)
1-7. Anna Lapwood – Ubi Caritas (04:09)
1-8. Anna Lapwood – The Seal Lullaby (03:18)
1-9. Anna Lapwood – O That I Once Past Changing Were (03:35)
1-10. Anna Lapwood – Pie Jesu (04:08)
1-11. Anna Lapwood – Drop, Drop, Slow Tears (01:42)
1-12. Anna Lapwood – O For the Wings of a Dove (Arr. for Choir and Organ by Anna Lapwood) (05:18)
1-13. Anna Lapwood – Ex Ore Innocentium (03:31)
1-14. Anna Lapwood – You Know Me (04:04)
1-15. Anna Lapwood – Ave Maria (02:39)
1-16. Anna Lapwood – Litany to the Holy Spirit (02:26)
1-17. Anna Lapwood – I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (03:15)
1-18. Anna Lapwood – Ely Canticles: I. Magnificat (03:42)
1-19. Anna Lapwood – Ely Canticles: II. Nunc Dimittis (03:41)

Download:

mqs.link_AnnaLapw00dCelestialDawn20222496