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New Horizons: contemporary British sacred choral music
The Ebor Singers, directed by Paul Gameson
BMCD0901 (released June 2009)

Rich and personal contributions to the British sacred choral repertoire are explored by The Ebor Singers, including two works commissioned by the choir from Kerry Andrew (York Mass) and Philip Moore (Pilgrimage) and recorded here for the first time, as well as pieces by Jonathan Dove, Michael Finnissy and Tarik O’Regan.  Kerry Andrew is proving to be one of the most striking of the new wave of young composers, while Philip Moore, Organist Emeritus of York Minster, has been composing choral music for over 30 years and continues to receive commissions from choral groups and cathedral choirs.

The Ebor Singers is one of the most exciting chamber choirs from the north of England. The choir’s previous releases on Boreas have included another premiere recording of music by Kerry Andrew, Dusk Songs (BMCD0701), which received 5 stars in Choir and Organ (‘An inspirational programme. The Ebor Singers are magnificent throughout…’), and a disc of Christmas music  (BMCD0703), which was given 4 stars in BBC Music Magazine (‘their technical credentials and interpretative intelligence are evident...’). In November 2008 Dusk Songs was selected from 100s of recordings submitted by choirs across the country to be played on Classic FM’s The Full Works.

Prisms of Renewal:  German Organ Music 1840-1900
John Scott Whiteley, the organ of York Minster
BMCD0902 (released November 2009)

John Scott Whiteley traces the 19th-century German organ tradition in this programme featuring Liszt’s Fantasia and Fugue on Ad nos, ad salutarem undam and Reger’s Fantasia on the chorale Wie schön leucht’ uns der Morgenstern, as well as smaller-scale works by Mendelssohn and Brahms.

John Scott Whiteley is the Organist of York Minster, and has recently become known for his performances on BBC2 and BBC4 television of the complete organ music of J.S. Bach (‘a triumph both visually and musically’, The Daily Telegraph).  He has some 25 CD recordings to his credit, having been recorded by EMI, Guild, Regent, Priory, Amphion and York Ambisonics.  His recent disc for Regent (English Cathedral Series Vol. XV) was described as ‘a treat for the ear… played with great verve’ (Gramophone, February 2009).