Humfrey: Sacred Choral Music The Choir Of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal & Joseph McHardy

• Pelham Humfrey (1647 - 1674):
• 1 Humfrey: O Give Thanks Unto the Lord 11:13
• 2 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Morning Service": I. Te Deum 04:54
• 3 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Morning Service": II. Jubilate 02:11
• Service in E Minor "Communion Service":
• 4 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Communion Service": I. Kyrie 00:59
• 5 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Communion Service": II. Credo 03:39
• 6 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Communion Service": III. Sanctus 00:41
• 7 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Communion Service": IV. Gloria 02:21
• Pelham Humfrey:
• 8 Humfrey: By the Waters of Babylon 13:03
• Service in E Minor "Evening Service":
• 9 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Evening Service": I. Magnificat 04:01
• 10 Humfrey: Service in E Minor "Evening Service": II. Nunc dimittis 02:36
• Pelham Humfrey:
• 11 Humfrey: O Lord My God 13:17
• Total Runtime 58:55

Info for Humfrey: Sacred Choral Music

A protege of Henry Cooke, first director of the choir of the Chapel Royal after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Pelham Humfrey was part of a generation of musicians who enriched the musical life of their native England with influences drawn from continental Europe - from France, where Humfrey had studied between 1664 and 1667, and from the Italian musicians at work in the London to which he returned, succeeding Cooke in 1672.

Today the same choir sings at St James's Palace, where the present recording was made by gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen. Joined by a small instrumental ensemble led by Delphian regular Bojan Cicic, with an antiphonal layout inspired by records of the former chapel at Whitehall, this group of ten boy choristers and six adult singers revives the musical and devotional world of its former director, in intimate performances alive with its predecessors' improvisational flair.

Alexander Chance, countertenor (tracks 1-3, 9 and 10)
Nicholas Mulroy, tenor (tracks 1-3, 5 and 8-11)
Nick Pritchard, tenor (tracks 1, 2 and 8-11)
Ashley Riches, bass (tracks 1-3 and 8-11)
Stephen Whitford, bass/cantor (track 3)
The Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace
Joseph McHardy, director of music
Bojan Cicic, violin 1
Elin White, violin 2
Jane Rogers, viola
Sarah McMahon, cello
Alex McCartney, theorbo
Martyn Noble, organ
Joseph McHardy, organ

The Choir of HM Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace
sing services throughout the year in the palace’s splendid Chapel Royal, whose ceiling was installed by Henry VIII in the 1530s. The gentlemen are joined by up to eighteen boy choristers, who are drawn from schools nearby, and led by Carl Jackson, Director of Music.

Just as in the sixteenth century, the choir’s personnel is adapted dynamically to the occasion and the demands of the repertory. In ordinary times, there are six Gentlemen (indicated opposite in italic), and for special occasions the ensemble can expand to as many as fourteen singers.

The Chapel Royal Choir is made up of six Gentlemen-in-Ordinary, ten choristers, an Organist and Choirmaster and a Sub-Organist. The boys are traditionally known as the Children of the Chapel Royal, and wear the distinctive State uniform introduced at the Restoration in 1660. The boys attend City of London School, and receive a Choral Scholarship.

Booklet for Humfrey: Sacred Choral Music