Elgar choral music: world premiere recordings

by LONDON ENGLISH SONG FESTIVAL in London, Greater London, United Kingdom

Total raised £1,505

 
Gift Aid
+ est. £350.00
£3,200 target 24 days left
47% 12 supporters
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 6th March 2025 at 9:23pm

Edward Elgar: a second disc of choral works from the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on SOMM Recordings.

Project by LONDON ENGLISH SONG FESTIVAL

Following a hugely successful first recording of Elgar’s choral works for SOMM Recordings, the renowned Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea will be making a second disc, paying homage to his extraordinary quality and breadth of writing. Released in 2022, ‘The Reeds by Severn Side’ received extensive critical acclaim: ‘All told, this is another feather in the cap for the increasingly impressive Vann-Royal Hospital Chelsea partnership. (BBC Music Magazine).

Although many previously unrecorded works were included in our first disc, there are several more of a high quality and of significant interest that remain, notably two hymn tunes, an intriguing, innovative quadruple set of psalm chants, and two settings of ‘O Salutaris Hostia’ with mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists. Our programme for the remainder of the disc could consist entirely of sacred choral music. However, one of the charms of ‘The Reeds by Severn Side’ was its showcasing of a blend of sacred and secular music, showing Elgar’s full range of choral styles.

The London English Song Festival is supporting this project, in line with its charitable objectives. We have secured £15,000 of funding towards this project, including a substantial donation from the Elgar Society, and are hoping to raise £3,200 to cover the remaining cost of making this important new recording. We would be hugely grateful for your support! The recording dates are 16th-18th February, the album will be released in 2026 and we hope to close this funding gap by the middle of March. 

The full programme is as follows.

World premiere recordings:

- Stabat Mater (hymn) 3’
- Praise ye the Lord - hymn tune in C major (this forms the basis of the musical material for Good Morrow, recorded on The Reeds by Severn Side 3’30
- Psalm 51 with quadruple rotating psalm chants 3’30
- O Salutaris Hostia in G (for mezzo-soprano solo) 3’30
- O Salutaris Hostia in E flat II (baritone solo, with chorus) accompaniment partially reconstructed 3’30

Major sacred choral works:

- Great is the Lord 10’
- The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (from The Apostles) 7’
- O Salutaris Hostia in E flat 2’
- Ecce Sacerdos 3’30
- Seek him that maketh the seven stars 7‘ (from The Light of Life)
- Light of the World 4’ (from The Light of Life)

Majar secular works:

God Save the King 3’
Two Choral Songs, Op. 73:

  • Love’s Tempest 3’
  • Serenade 2’

From Four Part Songs, Op. 53
- No. 2 - Deep in My Soul 5’
- No. 3 - O Wild, West Wind 4’

Go, Song of Mine 5’
How calmly the evening 3’

Performers:

Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
William Vann - director
Callum Knox - organist

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You will receive thanks and a credit in all CD booklets and regular updates from the LESF, Royal Hospital Chelsea and SOMM about the project.

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You will receive thanks and a credit in all CD booklets, access to one recording session, regular, personal updates from the LESF, Royal Hospital Chelsea and SOMM about the project and a complimentary invite to the recording launch concert and reception.

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Gold supporter

You will receive thanks and a credit in all CD booklets, access to all recording sessions, regular, personal updates from the LESF, Royal Hospital Chelsea and SOMM about the project and a pair of complimentary invites to the launch concert and reception.

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