The Challenges of Recording Choirs

Music producer Adrian Peacock talks to Aled Jones about the challenges of recording choirs, and introduces Aled to some of his favourite choral recordings.

The programme also catches up with some of the groups who took part in Radio 3's Wings project.

Playlist:
Feature of the Lochranza Choir from the Isle of Arran, Scotland. They took part in the BBC Radio 3’s ‘Wings’ project – where choirs from all over the country performed Mendelssohn’s ‘Wings of a Dove’ on the same weekend earlier this month.

Richard Strauss
Traumlicht
The King’s Singers
Signum SIGCD147 (from their new ‘Romance du Soir’ album), track 13

Jonathan Dove
Seek him that maketh the Seven Stars
Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, Jeremy Filsell (organ)
Signum SIGCD501, track 1

John Tavener
Song for Athene
King’s College Cambridge, dir. Stephen Cleobury
New release from EMI

A selection of choirs own recordings of their performances for the Radio 3 ‘Wings’ project:
The Carol Andrew Singers from Darlington, County Durham, Spalding Parish Church Choir, Worthing Voices and Hambledon Valley Group Choir

Radio 3’s ‘Wings’ project feature: the Choir of West Derby Parish Church, Liverpool

Scott Joplin
Heliotrope Bouquet
Swingle 2
CBS 80947 (from the album ‘Rags and all the Jazz’), track 7

Johann Pachelbel arr. Alexander L’Estrange
Canon
Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short
Signum SIGCD050, track 5

Veljo Tormis
Autumn landscapes No.1, 2 & 5
Holst Singers, conducted by Stephen Layton
Hyperion, CDA67601, tracks 15, 16 & 19

Pawel Łukascewski
Beatus Vir Sanctus Paulus
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Hyperion

Radio 3’s ‘Wings’ project feature: Colmore Junior School choir, Birmingham

Gabriel Jackson
Cecilia Virgo
Salve Regina 2
Polyphony, directed by Stephen Layton
Hyperion CDA67708, tracks 3 & 11