It is very decidedly Shaw, the ultimate choir giant, as evidenced in the very musical interpretation and the big, legato sound of the ensemble. Diction and dynamics seem a little neglected at times (which could be a problem with the recording or the hall, not the singing), and there are a few intonation troubles, but far be it from this little fish in the choral pond to give any real criticisms.

If you have not heard the "Hymn to St. Cecilia", this is a good first listen to it, with a pretty accurate realization of Britten's tempi and the heart-wrenching quality of the soprano solo in the 3rd movement, "O dear white children". The other pieces on the CD are not as well-known to me, but are clearly excellent, well-performed examples of demanding works. If you can't get a hold of the David Willcocks LP of "Cecilia" with King's College Choir, "Appear and Inspire" is certainly my close second favorite.


Not up to Par---for a Shaw Choir   February 22, 2006
Music Man
I have been a fan of Robert Shaw recordings for a very long time. I purchased this disc in hopes of finding the Quintessential recording of "Hymn". I did not find it. In the first movement, the choir sounds tired, but the diction is very clean and througout the second movement, the choir keeps up with the demanding tempo well. However the third movement becomes downright lethargic, and that blame goes directly to Shaw. Every great conductor has their own interpetations, but I can't figure out what Shaw was going for.
The other pieces are nice, especially the Poulenc. I have not studied these works, so I can't comment on them, but they are worth a listen.


Ethereal   May 24, 2003
John Prothero (Garden Grove, CA United States)
Upon his retirement from the Atlanta Symphony (actually before he retired), Robert Shaw concentrated on and did recordings of more intimate music with his Festival Singers and the Quercy Institute. Most of these are gems to be cherished (his Schubert for Male Chorus is wonderful!) And other than the Rachmaninov Vespers, I would have to highly recommend this recording simply for the Britten "Hymn to St. Cecilia". This is a truly beautiful and intimate work by Britten that has usually been best served by British choirs. But this recording has warmth, clarity, precise diction and intonation, and movement. As with many scores that Shaw interpreted, he pulls out small things that bring the score to life. The "Hymn..." breathes and moves, and the singers keep up to the demanding tempo in the 2nd movement without a hitch. This is a brilliant piece of music that Shaw and his singers bring to glorious life. I was also impressed with the music of Henk Badings, whom I had never heard of before. And the choral music of Ravel and Debussy (who knew they wrote choral music?) is given equally tender readings. Other than the Vespers and the Schubert, this is a Shaw recording to have and listen to and enjoy.


a voice teacher and early music fan   February 2, 2007
George Peabody (Carlisle,Pa. USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

DOMINIC ARGENTO'S SONG 'I HATE AND LOVE'IS ONE OF THE MANY UNUSUAL SONGS IN THIS INTERESTING COLLECTION!

Robert Shaw (1916-1999). In his career whichspanned 6 decades and 4 cities, Robert Shaw transformed choral conducting into an art and nearly single-handedly raised its standards to a new level. For more than half a century he set the standard of excellence for choral music, enjoying a status of patriarch of vocal musical interpretation in the USA. The violinest Isaac Stern said of him: "Robert Shaw is without a doubt the leading choral conductor in the US...He is a practising and acknowledged master of an art that he teaches with passion and commitment."

This masterfully performed recording displays all of the above abilities of Robert Shaw and his meticulously trained singers, as well as his vast knowledge of the compositions he has chosen. And what a variety of works we have for our listening pleasure!

Britten's 'Hymn to St. Cecelia' was written during his return trip on a slow Swedish freighter along with the tenor Peter Pears, their voyage having been disrupted by wartime difficulties. The work was premiered on St. Cecelia's Day (Nov. 22), which was also Britten's birthday, by the BBC Singers. It is a very descriptive piece that made the most of W.H.Auden's poetic imagery.

The "Trois chansons' are Debussy's only published work for a cappella chorus. All three are excellent examples of the taste and simplicity Debussy brought to the setting of texts from ancient sources.

Ravel wrote his 'Trois Chansons' in 1915, while in the service; he wrote the words himself. They show the same assurance of color and nuance as his works for piano and orchestra.

Poulenc who wrote 'Un soir de neige' was also one of the great 20th century masters of French song. His music, in general, has a supple lyricism and austere and sometimes grotesque beauty.

Bading's 'Trois chansons bretonnes' (Three songs for Brittany) were composed in 1946 to poetry by Theodore Botrel. One characteristic of his choral music is his frequent dividing of the vocal sections to create thick textures for his impressionistic sound pictures.

Dominic Argento is a name from my past ,as he was a student at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore at the same time I attended, so I actually became familiar with his style of composing. I found his music quite interesting and attractive and 'I Hate and Love' prompts me to use the same adjectives.

There are some works on here that I really enjoyed, and some not, but only because I personally do not like the music of some composers; but it's all performed at a high level, and with Shaw's usual perfection.