Praise the Lord, my soul (Samuel Sebastian Wesley) - Guildford Cathedral Choir (Barry Rose)

[@ArchivesofSound]

This performance took place only two years after the Consecration. The nine-year-old soloist would later go on to become Head Chorister.

[@ArchivesofSound]

No, apparently he was 10!

[@keithbennett2596]

Many thanks to Barry for pointing me in the direction of this, I’d completely forgotten about this extraordinary piece. Actually I’d just had my tenth birthday.

[@Cagedvole]

don't think I ever heard a treble voice with so much unselfconscious charm shining through the perfection. That little nine-year-old's mind must have been so entirely on what he was doing, he sounds no more nervous than a thrush in a dewy morning :-)

[@ArchivesofSound]

Jennifer Gratwick Nicely put. It might even be true...

[@heepitfull]

Recordings at Guildford from this period absolutely MUST be released on compact discs. Thank heavens someone saw fit to record the psalms and anthems.

[@ArchivesofSound]

A limited number of items were released on a CD to accompany Simon Carpenter's 1996 book "The Beat is Irrelevant", and that CD was followed up by another, about 10 years later, but such CDs are hardly commercially viable. Hence this YT channel.

[@heepitfull]

Couldn't resist another comment--the slight holding back on "safety" at the very end is delicious.

[@waldenhouse]

Beautiful performance, especially from the boy soloist. A piece I have sung numerous times as a Chorister at Leeds Parish Church, 1963 - 1971. Lovely to hear it.

[@ArchivesofSound]

With that musical background, you are certainly well qualified to comment! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ArchivesofSound]

(For those who may not know, Leeds Parish Church had one of the finest church choirs in England at that time)

[@waldenhouse]

Thank you for your kind response. It was a pivotal time in my life. In 1967 I was made Head Chorister, the youngest ever at that time (I was 12). My Brother and Father were in the Choir then. (All my Uncles had been in the Choir as well). I have a rare disc of the 1967 Leeds Triennial Music Festival featuring LPC on which I sing Monteverdi's Laudate Domini with contemporary Nigel Louth. At the time it was hailed as one of the finest performances ever. Harpsichord Continuo was Roger Bullivant. Conductor was Donald Hunt. I would like to get the disc digitised before I slip off this mortal coil! Regards, Robert Denton

[@ArchivesofSound]

The channel with whom we collaborate (ARCM at kzbin.info/door/oJLDKYk8C9b0_32eNHJf0w) will digitise it for you, if you wish. Or it may already be in the official archive. You can contact Colin via their website: arechmus.org

[@waldenhouse]

Wonderful! Many thanks. Very encouraging. I will be in touch.

[@ArchivesofSound]

Excellent. Colin is hoping to hear from you, as the disc you mention is NOT in the archive. Offers free digitisation. (ARCM works in collaboration with ArchivesofSound)

[@ArchivesofSound]

The last section of this piece ("Lead me, Lord") is often performed as a separate anthem.

[@Bigbearbeau]

It's a shame victorian cathedral music is going back in the closet...like so many things kids today will grow up without soul and without a care for anyone!

[@ArchivesofSound]

Bigbearbeau "Shame" is the right word. There is much fine Victorian cathedral music, although it does need to be performed well, if it's to be truly effective. Perhaps that's the problem.

[@Bigbearbeau]

choirs have gone through the roof at the moment, st johns, magdelen, out of this world! even the lesser cathedrals...

[@Cagedvole]

***** thinking of this the other day - it's sadly true! I happened to hear a performance of the Wilderness on the radio fairly recently and was astonished (having previously only heard it on this channel) how lacklustre the choir managed to make it sound :-( If that had been my introduction to the work, i doubt if I would have bothered to revisit it. How much I would have lost - it's one of many AoS tracks that haunt me

[@ArchivesofSound]

Jennifer Gratwick It's alarming how much havoc a bad choir can wreak on perfectly harmless music! By the same token, a good choir can make even average music sound great.

[@HappyHauptwerk]

I have to disagree. A lot of Victorian church music is dull, uninspiring, poorly written and should rightly be consigned to the dustbin, in my opinion.