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