Herald AV Publications

HAVPCD277 – Music from Renaissance Portugal II Mass for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, in Lisbon Cathedral

This recording contributes to the tremendously exciting task of bringing back to light the riches of Portuguese musical culture in the 16th and 17th centuries, and is a companion to the Cambridge Taverner’s Choir’s first disc (HAVP155). It does not attempt to ‘reconstruct’ a particular occasion in a particular place. It does, however, try to give some sense of the manner in which polyphony was combined with organ music and with chant within liturgical performance.

HAVPCD274 – Supernova Reubke, Holst & Duruflé: Joseph Nolan at the organ of Ripon Cathedral

As well as its orchestral form, Holst’s Suite The Planets exists in versions for keyboard: Holst’s original working version for piano duet, a version for two pianos arranged by the composer himself, and a transcription for organ by the distinguished organist Arthur Wills, of which three movements are recorded on this CD. The piano versions convey the power, energy, and delicacy of Holst’s writing but the added dimension of the organ’s tonal spectrum makes it an ideal instrument to approach the colours of the original orchestration with great effect.