English Contemporary Psalm Settings

Elysian Singers of London

We kick off our Psalmfest 2016 with an array of English Contemporary Psalm Settings, honouring the choir’s commitment to music by living composers; from Joseph Horovitz (now 90) to the choir’s own Dan Rollison (still only 28!). The choir has a particular connection to the two biggest works: Malcolm Singer’s ‘Songs of Ascent’ was written for the Elysian Singers in 1994, and the choir gave the London premiere of Tarik O’Regan’s ‘Dorchester Canticles’ in 2005. Alongside such names as Nicola LeFanu and Howard Goodall are the younger generation, such as Thomas Hewitt Jones and Mark Fleming. Where better to start than a setting of Psalm No.1 by Cheryl Frances-Hoad!

Cheryl Frances-Hoad: Psalm 1
Joseph Horovitz: Sing unto the Lord a new song
Daniel Rollison: Adiuva nos & Deus salutaris noster
Thomas Hewitt Jones: Oculi omnium
Tarik O’Regan: Dorchester Canticles
Robin Holloway: Psalm 113 (from ‘Three Psalms’)
Malcolm Singer: Songs of Ascent
Mark Fleming: Save me, O God
Nicola LeFanu: The little valleys
Howard Goodall: Tu cognovisti