This CD contains all the 78 rpm recordings made by New College
Choir for HMV in 1927 and in 1949-51 for Columbia's Anthology
of English Church Music series, together with some recordings
made during the Second World War for the Joint Broadcasting
Committee of the BBC and intended for overseas transmission.
These recordings provide an insight into recording techniques,
performance practice and the standard of musical performance
at New College over a period of twenty-five years.
The HMV recordings directed by Dr W H Harris (1919-29) are the
earliest recordings of the choir. There are no known recordings directed
by John Dykes-Bower (1929-33) or by Dr Sydney Watson (1933-38),
nor is there any recording of Harris directing his best-known work,
Faire is the heaven, written for the choir in 1925, but it is
fitting that the final track is a recording of Ah! See the
fair chivalry come, written by Dr H K Andrews (1938-56) for the choir in 1948
and conducted by the composer. This track was the last
commercial recording the choir made until 1962 when,
under Dr David Lumsden’s direction, the first LPs
for Alpha Records were made.
Recorded in New College Chapel, Oxford
Playing time : 60'51" ADD
