Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford
Christ Church is the oldest and best known of Oxford's colleges. The Cathedral began as a monastery founded in the eighth century by St. Frideswide. In 1546, the monastery, after having served as a priory and Cardinal College, was united with the See of Oxford and established as Christ Church Cathedral by King Henry VIII.
The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral was founded in 1526 and consists of sixteen boys and twelve men, as well as two organists. Chosen for their musical ability, the boys attend the Christ Church Cathedral School, on its own grounds, near the college. Six of the men, called Academic Clerks, attend Christ Church College and six are professionals, called Lay Clerks; some of England's finest organists have trained at the Cathedral and accompanied the choir.
The choir's history includes a series of illustrious directors, from John Taverner (the very first (appointed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1526) to William Walton (1912-18); Walton composed some of his most famous songs and anthems for the Cathedral Choir. Since its inception, the choir has sung daily services (usually Tuesday through Sunday) in the cathedral and given a large number of concerts and broadcasts for audiences both in England and abroad. The choir's repertoire spans hundreds of years, from the early Renaissance to the end of the twentieth century, and they have commissioned and recorded works by John Tavener, William Mathias, and Howard Goodall. Their award-winning recordings reflect their range of interpretive ability; most notable among them are English Choral Music 1514-1682 and Howard Goodall: Choral works, a recording of motets by J. S. Bach, and Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols. The choir's recordings appear on the Nimbus and Metronome labels. Collaborations with organist and composer Howard Goodall have resulted in a number of unusual projects, including theme music for television shows such as Mr. Bean and The Vicar of Dibley.
Referred to as "one of the finest choirs on Earth," the Christ Church Cathedral Choir has become recognized around the globe for its excellence. They have toured extensively in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and the Middle East. Christ Church Choir has collaborated with orchestras such as the ECO, London Sinfonietta, The Hanover Band, The English Concert, and The Academy of Ancient Music. In the year 2000, the choir made its fifth tour of the United States under its present director, Stephen Darlington.
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Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; Mass / Poulenc: Easter Motets
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Simon Preston
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Favourite Hymns from Oxford - Amazing Grace
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Stephen Darlington
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Griffin Records on 30/11/2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Utrecht Te Deum; Jubilate
Simon Preston, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/10/1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Queen Anne Birthday Ode; Foundling Hospital Anthem / Haydn: Missa Brevis
Simon Preston, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lassus: Choral Music
Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Simon Preston
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on 8/02/2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lassus: Missa "Bell' Amfitrit' Altera"; Penitential Psalm VII
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Simon Preston
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 21/07/1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: The Masses
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, The Choir of St John’s Cambridge, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, George Guest, Simon Preston, Sir David Willcocks
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: 4 Coronation Anthems/Dixit Dominus etc.
Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Winchester Cathedral Choir, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Israel in Egypt
Simon Preston, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, English Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/04/1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Goodall: Choral Works
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, David Goode, Stephen Darlington
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 9/06/2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Great Organ Mass; Missa Sancti Nicolai; Missa Rorate Coeli
Simon Preston, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janá?ek: The Lord’s Prayer, Choral and Organ Music
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Stephen Darlington, Andrew Carwood, Clive Driskill Smith, Victoria Davies, Aline Nassif
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Griffin Records on 25/11/2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Mass in D
Simon Preston, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Nicholas Cleobury
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 3/11/1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
D. Scarlatti: Stabat Mater, Salve Regina & Organ Sonatas
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Francis Grier
Classical - Released by Hyperion on 1/03/1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pantcheff: Choral and Organ Works
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Clive Driskill Smith, Stephen Darlington
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Quilisma on 1/01/2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Taverner: Missa Corona Spinea; Votive Antiphon: O Wilhelme Pastor Bone
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Francis Grier
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1/01/1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
An Oxford Evensong (Featuring University Composers)
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Stephen Darlington
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Griffin Records on 24/09/2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky, Poulenc: Choral Works
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Simon Preston
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on 1/01/1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Romantic Choral Classics
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Simon Preston
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Stabat Mater
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Griffin Records on 30/10/2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Spirit Rejoices
Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, Indianapolis, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Frederick Burgomaster
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Gothic on 27/06/2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo