St. Salvator's Chapel Choir & Tom Wilkinson - Annunciations (2018) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

'Annunciations' celebrates Sir James MacMillan's ongoing contributions to sacred music, performed by St Salvator's Chapel Choir. Alongside five of his own pieces, the album includes works by two decisive influences on MacMillan, Benjamin Britten and Kenneth Leighton; two significant contemporaries, John Tavener and Judith Bingham; and six next generation composers mentored by Sir James on the TheoArtistry Composers' Scheme, a collaboration between ITIA (the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts), the Music Centre, and St Salvator's Chapel Choir, in the University of St Andrews.

Through music of fascinating and sublime beauty, this recording takes the listener on a musical journey through salvation history, exploring moments in the Old and New Testaments when God speaks to humankind. At the heart of the recording are six new settings of 'annunciations' in the Hebrew Bible. These are framed by moments of divine communication in the New Testament as well as settings of the annunciation: the angel Gabriel announcing to the virgin Mary that she will give birth to the Messiah.

Sir James MacMillan is one of today's most successful composers and conductors. His musical language is flooded with influences from his Scottish heritage, Catholic faith, social conscience and close connection with Celtic folk music, blended with influences from Far Eastern, Scandinavian and Eastern European music.

St Salvator's Chapel Choir is committed to the performance of new music, and regularly commissions and performs works for both liturgical and secular contexts. The Sanctiandree label has already garnered acclaim for releases including Salvator Mundi, charting 100 years of English church music after Purcell, Ca' the Yowes, featuring British folk song arrangements, and Bach and the Stile Antico.

Tracklist:
01. Ave Maria
02. Canticle of Zachariah
03. Annunciation
04. The Second Service, Op. 62: I. Magnificat
05. The Second Service, Op. 62: II. Nunc Dimittis
06. A New Song
07. Hinneni
08. Whilst Falling Asleep, Savta told me of Jacob
09. Exodus III
10. God Calls Samuel
11. The Silent Word Sounds
12. The Annunciation of Solomon
13. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them
14. Hymn to the Virgin
15. Annunciation
16. O Radiant Dawn

Composers:
Beatch, Stuart (b. 1991)
Bingham, Judith (b.1952)
Briggs, Kerensa
Britten, Benjamin (1913-76)
De Grande, Dominic
Doherty, Seán (b. 1987)
Leighton, Kenneth (1929-88)
MacMillan, James (b.1959)
McDonnell, Anselm
Robertson, Lisa
Tavener, John (1944-2013)

Personnel:
St. Salvator's Chapel Choir
Tom Wilkinson, director