Words from Revelation 4:8
Music by Simon Shaw
Set as an introit for Trinity Sunday

Holy Holy Holy / Shaw / WSL VV Camerata

Leonard White's easy and popular setting of the prayer by C12 St Richard of Chichester.

O Holy Jesu (A Prayer of St Richard of Chichester)/ White / WSL VV

The Anglican service of Choral Evensong contains 'versicles' - short sentences intoned by the minister or a cantor, each with a sung 'response' by the choir, and composed sets of 'Responses' often include a setting of The Lord's Prayer, and three sung Amens for the Collects (set prayers).
This is a recording of Simon Shaw's second set of Responses with Lord's Prayer, performed by Virtual Voices.

Preces and Responses for Evensong (Set 2) with The Lord's Prayer

New setting of the Magnificat or Song of Mary, one of the canticles sung at Choral Evensong.  Here performed by the VV4 group.

Magnificat in E flat by Simon Shaw

A new setting of the Nunc Dimittis, or Song of Simeon, one of the canticles sung at Choral Evensong.  Here performed by the VV4 group.

Nunc Dimittis in E flat by Simon Shaw

Above all praise and all majesty, Lord thou reignest evermore. Halleluia!

Above All Praise and All Majesty / Mendelssohn / WSL Virtual Voices

Cherubic Hymn No 1 - for our service on Trinity Sunday
"Blessed angel spirits offer praise undying, ever crying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Saints and martyrs praise thy name, Trinity life-giving, earthborn sorrow leaving before thy throne. Ever crying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Father omnipotent, mighty in glory, Christ thy Son our Saviour, who died that we might live, Holy Spirit, mystic dove dwelling with us evermore; we praise thee, blessed Trinity. With the angels’ sacred hymn all thy might proclaiming, with the mystic cherubim in songs of praise we join. Holy, holy, holy, join we all in songs of praise for ever: Hallelujah, Lord God of Sabaoth."
Singers: Ellie, Beth, Fiona, Vicki, Margaret, Clare, Victoria, Jenny, Simon, Iain, Charles, Alex & Paul

Hymn to the Trinity / Tchaikovsky / WSL Virtual Voices

Words: J.M.C. Crum 1872–1958
Music: Noel Nouvelet (Fr trad) arr. Simon J Shaw
Sung by: WSL Virtual Voices

Now the green blade riseth / Simon Shaw / WSL Virtual Voices

From Henry Purcell's moving setting of the funeral sentences in the Book of Common Prayer.  WSL Virtual Voices directed by Simon Shaw

Funeral Sentences

Thou Knowest Lord / Purcell / WSL Virtual Voices

The well-known carol to the somewhat lesser-known but beautiful Normandy tune arranged by Reginald Jacques.
Lesley, Fiona, Emma, Julia, Jenny and Simon x 2.

Away in a Manger / Normandy tune arr Jacques / Virtual Voices Camerata

The popular chorus from Berlioz' "L'Enfance du Christ" as the shepherds say farewell to the Holy Family as they depart for exile in Egypt to escape Herod's slaughter of the innocents.
organ Dr Camilla Jarnot, director Simon Shaw

The Shepherds' Farewell / Berlioz / WSL Virtual Voices

Traditional carol, from the C15th Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors, accompanying the story of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents by Herod.  This is the most original available version, from a 1591 engraving.

Coventry Carol / WSL Virtual Voices

Charles Wood's setting of words by H.R. Bramley was written in 1915 in what have must seemed like very dark times.  So its celebration of light and hope in God is inspiring - especially now.
Many thanks to Dr Camilla Jarnot as always for her highly musical and accomplished playing.

O Thou The Central Orb / Wood / WSL Virtual Voices

German composer Johannes Eccard wrote (in the 17th century) one the of the few anthems specifically for Candlemas, which celebrates when Mary presented the baby Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem and the old man Simeon described him "as a light to lighten the gentiles".

Eccard / When to the temple Mary went / WSL Virtual Voices

Virtual Voices was created in April 2020 in response to the pandemic as our choirs could no longer meet safely.  We produce anthems and hymns for the local church at Waltham St Lawrence and elsewhere as well as occasional project work for our entertainment and we hope that of others.  The group is directed by Simon Shaw and our regular accompanist on the organ is Dr Camilla Jarnot.

Virtual Voices

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