The St John’s College Choir disc, Deo, has been nominated for the Choral Award in the 2017 BBC Music Magazine Awards. The winner of the award is decided by public vote, which is now open until 24 February 2017. Please follow the link if you would like to vote for this award (please bear in mind that once you have selected your choice, you have to add your details at the bottom for the vote to be registered). The winners will be announced at a ceremony at London’s Kings Place on 19 April.
Deo was the first recording released under the College’s new record label in association with Signum Classics. The recording is a collection of sacred works by Jonathan Harvey and the nomination is especially pleasing as the British composer studied music at St John’s College and was later made an Honorary Fellow in recognition of his outstanding international contribution as a composer. Two of the works on the disc - The Annunciation and The Royal Banners - were written especially for the Choir. The recording also features organ works Toccata for organ and tape and Laus Deo, as well as the popular anthems Come, Holy Ghost and I Love the Lord.
The Dean of St John’s College Chapel, the Reverend Duncan Dormor, explained, “This recording would not have been possible without the generous support of those who ‘sponsored a minute’ of music: the Choir’s next project – a recording of works by Poulenc, Langlais, Janáček and Kodaly – will be released later in the year. If you would like to sponsor a minute on this disc then you can find out more on how to do so here.”
Deo has been widely successful, receiving praise from many publications including the following:
"This is an essential disc not only for admirers of Jonathan Harvey’s work in general but for all those interested in contemporary sacred music" Ivan Moody, Gramophone Magazine (Read full review here .
“ecstatic” “richly challenging” “The Choir tackles it all with confidence and clarity” The Observer
“a terrific disc” “These are performances to treasure, of great intensity and remarkable power” Planet Hugill
“The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, has done one of its old boys proud” “ambition has paid off handsomely” “the music on this disc is so varied and inspiring” Financial Times
