Loving Shepherd and other hymns Lammas LAMM180D [DRD]: Classical CD Reviews- April 2006 MusicWeb-International

This is an excellent collection of hymns in sometimes new arrangements.

We begin with Richard Tanner’s own tune with a text by Jane Beeson “Loving Shepherd of thy sheep”, written for the Baptism of his son James. This is an unusual but very apt beginning as it also highlights Tanner’s undoubted talents and his choral forces. The unfamiliar is followed by the well known “Thy hand, O God, has guided”, to the tune by Basil Harwood.

This assembly of 24 hymns and anthems is good in juxtaposing the popular and the more obscure. For example “God be in my head” is reborn in a new tune by Herman Brearly; it is followed by the “Angel Voices” in familiar clothing. I was particularly taken by the arrangements of “Amazing Grace” and “Steal Away” (used by Tippett in “Child of our Time”), here reworked by John Bertalot. “Hymn for Cecilia” is sung and played with great aplomb! There is also terrific brass accompaniment in an exuberant version of the lovely “Ye Watchers and ye holy ones”.

Vaughan Williams’ “Let all the world in every corner sing” and Herbert Howells’ “Jubilate” (Collegium Regale) are familiar to visitors to Cathedrals and are what I call anthems. At my school we had to sing the “Jubilate” by Stanford at our Commemoration; fortunately no-one was around to hear me attempt singing along to these tuneful choirs! However I loved both of these very English pieces written by composers who both had tough lives but gave us life-affirming music. An earlier great choral composer Orlando Gibbons is represented by a moving rendition of “Peace Perfect Peace”.

For collectors of hymn anthologies this is a “must buy”. There is a feeling of spiritual uplift and freshness to the whole enterprise. This is ideal for the car or to unwind to. You might only want to play a few hymns at a time but every track has something to offer. Congratulations to all concerned!

David R Dunsmore

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