The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge
Benjamin Sheen director
CRD 3558
This release from Jesus College, Cambridge celebrates the choral music that has been written for the college choir. Several items are being recorded for the first time. Some of the lyricists and composers are former members of the group and in his note on the recording the Director of Music, Benjamin Sheen, makes the point that the college continues ‘provide a platform for emerging artists from within the College community to showcase their work’.
The disc opens open Eleanor Daley’s setting of words from the Song of Songs, Upon your heart. While one may recall Walton’s setting of this text, more often referred to as ‘Set me as a seal’, Daley’s setting is in no way reminiscent, yet is as expressive as the version by the older composer.
There are two settings of the evening canticles, the Jesus College Service by William Mathias and the setting by David Briggs. In the case of the Mathias, some of the composer’s rhythmic mannerisms appear to have dated rather badly, which is why his setting of the Nunc Dimittis seems to be more successful than that of the Magnificat. David Briggs’ approach to the texts sounds very fresh with natural word setting and a good contrast dramatically and dynamically at ‘He hath shown strength with his arm’. The use of only treble voices is most effective a provides a good contrast with the other items in the programme.
I was somewhat surprised to read that the College Choir was only formed in 1982, following the admission of women undergraduates. The soprano and alto parts are sung by women. This body is quite distinct from the Chapel Choir which comprises boy choristers aged 7 to 14 and adult singers on the back row. This means that the lower voices are common to both choirs.
In both cases the standard of performance is very high. Benjamin Sheen joined the College in 2023 after some years in America. This has prompted him to introduce new repertoire by American composers and, as with the Daley setting of Upon Your Heart, Libby Larson’s setting of God so loved the world is most refreshing after associating the words so closely with Stainer’s Crucifixion.
As a conspectus of what the Jesus College Choir, in both their formations, is capable of achieving at the present time, this disc could hardly be bettered. Their artistry has clearly inspired composers to provide music of great expressive and dramatic force and the results are most distinguished and enjoyable.
Review by Martyn Strachan