Complete Choral Songs, Volume Two
Toccata Classics, 2026
9/10
Listen to Complete Choral Songs, Volume Two
The late-blooming symphonist Havergal Brian sees his chorale work fleshed out by the Joyful Company Of Singers, Gavin Roberts, conductor Peter Broadbent, Finchley Children’s Music Group, John Evanson and conductor Grace Rossiter here.
“Daybreak” opens with the Joyful Company Of Singers harmonizing with much beauty and grace, and it isn’t long until “A Child’s Prayer” welcomes Evanson’s fluid piano amid the Finchley Children’s Music Group, whose voices radiate charm.
Further along, “Tell Me, Where Is Fancy Bred” enlists the Joyful Company Of Singers’ strong attention to tonality, while “The Lost Doll” pairs Evanson’s melodic keys with the youthful energy of the Finchley Children’s Music Group.
Deeper still, “Shall I Then Be Spared” illustrates tremendous vocal abilities via Joyful Company Of Singers that you can’t not be enamored with, and those voices are again present for the playful “He Was A Rat”.
Brian’s vision of both simple and complex arrangements are fleshed out here superbly, where songs from the early 1920s and contrapuntal studies for his mighty Gothic Symphony makes an impression.
Travels well with: David Hackbridge Johnson- Orchestral Music, Volume Four; Artur Lemba- Chamber Music, Volume Two