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Composer Byron Adams had a whole slew of his sacred choral music performed at an Evensong at All Saints, Beverly Hills in October. The Choir at All Saints is fairly well recorded (especially as heard on Hymns Through the Ages) and is one of my favorite American church choirs, so this is recommended listening.

The performances are downloadable in seven MP3s.

1. Introit: My Eyes for Beauty Pine - A simple strophic SATB setting. For the second verse, the lower parts "oo."
2. Preces & Responses - Possibly the strongest work of the set. This work is firmly grounded in historical models, and Adams's predilection for sequences only helps him here. This is hard stuff to write, and it really comes off very well.
3. Psalm 121 (Anglican Chant) - This is pretty, though perhaps a little angular seeming upon first hearing. This performance gets a little sloppy in the middle (it's good to know that they are human too), but is mostly very well sung. The quiet Gloria is very effective.
4. Magnificat - After "generations," the organ introduces a rhythmic flutter into the otherwise staid choral motion. "He has scattered" is set to a nice SA duet. The unison statement of the beginning of the Gloria is really stellar; my only quibble is that this performance makes the high A sound a little forced.
5. Nunc Dimittis - A noble, sweeping tune performed by organ and solo tenor. The choir joins for Gloria. This Gloria starts the same way as the pretty one in the Mag, but is slowed down and softened. It is much more subdued (no high A here). The solo tenor "Amen" is a real unexpected treat and a nice way to recap the opening of the Nunc.
6. Anthem: Praises of Jerusalem - This work is published by ECS. It's easy to hear the elements of his style at this point in the Evensong. Like the upward rising sequence. That works, but it comes back a lot. I think in general, the harmonic rhythm of the choral writing in this work is too consistent. Those parts are very harmonically conceived, whereas the active, substantial organ part tends to be a little more linear. It would be nice if the two found a way to switch roles once in a while. "Peace be within thy walls," is well set, but after hearing his setting of "My eyes for beauty pine" you have to wonder if he is even more obsessed with Howells than I am.
7. Hymn: CARITAS. I really wanted to like this hymn, and I think I almost could have, but the reference to Friedell's "Draw Us In the Spirit's Tether" was just too much. And immediately before that, you have elements of DOWN AMPNEY (let alone the fact that the rhythm of the whole hymn is nearly identical).

Music sung at Taize services at All Saints, Beverly Hills, is, if not of one composer, certainly in one style. So, doing an Evensong in the style of a single composer is not really a departure for them. In fact, it gives to the service a special kind of stylistic unity. This effort is admirable, and the church should be highly commended for making recordings freely available.

Byron Adams is a professor of music at University of California Riverside.

Labels: Howells, hymn