The Choir - Scottish Choral Music

Aled Jones finds out about choral singing in Scotland with Susan Hamilton, co-founder and artistic director of one of only two professional choirs based north of the border, the Dunedin Consort, and musician and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy, who is a leading figure in the Scottish traditional music scene. Plus news from the successful National Youth Choir of Scotland as well as music from William Sweeney and Peter Maxwell Davies - contemporary composers who have found inspiration in the traditions and landscape of the country. Playlist: Ludwig van Beethoven 12 Scottish songs No. 2 Duncan Gray Felicity Lott (soprano), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Thomas Allen (baritone), Marieke Blankestijn, Elizabeth Layton, Krysia Osostowiz (violin), Ursula Smith (cello), Malcolm Martineau (piano) DG 477 5128, CD 6, track 5 Ù-bhi à-bhi, ù-bhi à-bhi/ Mac a Phì (Puirt-a-beul, Mouth music), Trad. Arr. Roberton Massed Gaelic Choirs Thomas Tallis O nata lux Dunedin Consort Delphian DCD 34008, track 2, George Frideric Handel Messiah Chorus: For unto a child is born Dunedin Consort & Players Linn CKD 285, track 13 John Bevan Baker A group of Songs from “Songs of Courtship” No 1: Out in the Bushlands No: 3 Plop fall the plums Consort of Voices, with piano Graeme McNaught, Stuart Hope, conductor William Conway Linn CKD 286, tracks 1 & 3 Psalm 16: v. 8-9 sung to the tune of Kilmarnock Before me constantly, I set the Lord alone precentor Calum Martin with congregation from the Back Free Church on the Isle of Lewis Salm: Volume I, track 1 William Sweeney Salm an fherrain Cappella Nova directed by Alan Taverner Linn CKD 014, track 10 John Gardner Prayer under the pressure of violent anguish from A Burns Sequence, op 213 National Youth Choir of Scotland, conducted by Christopher Bell NYCoS CD1, track 1 Anthea Haddow The Peoples Mass Benedictus; La Muerta Solo voice Susan Hamilton, Dunedin Consort with Helen Thomson on harp Delphian DCD 34018, tracks 14 and 15 Stuart MacRae (words Julia MacDonald) Alasdair à Gleann a Garadh (Lament for Alasdair of Glengarry) Inverness Gaelic Choir conducted by Jamie MacGregor BBC recording from the Mod Fiona and Eilidh Mackenzie arr. Neil Houston A’Fighe le Feur Atomic Piseag Silk CD KCD 020, track 5 Trad. Arr. K. Thomson Balaich an Iasgaich (The Fisher Lads) Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association (Ceòlraidh Gàidhlig Ghlaschu), conducted by Kenneth Thomson Skye CD48, track 1 Johann Sebastian Bach Matthew Passion O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groβ Dunedin Consort & Players CD1 T38 Linn CKD 313 Peter Maxwell Davies House of Winter / Sea Runes BBC Singers, Simon Joly Collins 14632, tracks 2 & 3