'We Sing of God'

We Sing of God, Choirs of St. Paul's Parish, K Street, R. McCormick (released on June 18, 2010) Pro Organo CD 7238 | 74'01" Available only from Pro Organo

This new CD, released last week, is the first to be recorded by the Choirs of St. Paul's Parish, K Street, under the current director of music, Robert McCormick, who was appointed in 2008. It would not be appropriate for me to write a review of it, because Master Ionarts was for a time a chorister there, including when this CD was made. However, I can give this excellent choral program another plug by letting you know about the CD, which has a beautiful selection of unusual music in the Anglican tradition that is its specialty: Sidney Campbell, Peter Hurford, Charles Wood, Herbert Howells, as well as the lesser-heard Evening Service in E Minor by Leo Sowerby and the first-ever recording of McNeil Robinson's Missa Brevis. It is not all performed by just the boys' choir but includes performances by the adult, girls, and teen choirs, along with organ improvisations and pieces played by McCormick and his assistant, John Bohl.

The boys' choir sings at the weekly Sunday evensong (6 pm) during the school year, and for any parents looking for a top-notch musical education for their son, I cannot recommend the boys' choir highly enough. It is a choir of boys and men in the high Anglican tradition, and the boys sing an impeccable and extensive repertory of the best historical music. Boys can enter the program at any time, beginning at around age 8 and until their voices break, and the application and audition process is painless and puts no pressure on the boys. Unlike many children's choirs, furthermore, there are no fees to pay, just the commitment to bring your child to rehearsals and performances. It is an intense experience but also extremely fulfilling for both children and their parents.