Light of the World

Info & track listings

The English Choral Tradition – the envy of the world – has been enriched over the centuries by music from other traditions and cultures. Nowadays it is not uncommon to hear music from the Russian liturgy movingly and effectively performed in an English church.

This recording aims to present a varied and interesting programme of music sung regularly in the Church of St Thomas-on-the-Bourne, Farnham. The works span four centuries and embrace European and Russian Orthodox music.The Choir of St Thomas-on-the-Bourne in Farnham, Surrey, has a history of good music going back to the 1950s and beyond.

The choir achieved a very high standard in the 1970s under the leadership of David Victor-Smith, who now directs the well-known Farnham Youth Choir. In 1985 David Gabe became Director of Music and he was followed by David Swinson in 1994.

The past few years have been notably busy, with tours to France, the USA, Bermuda, Wales, and various English cathedrals.