‘He who sings prays twice’ - so said St Augustine of Hippo. The music of Gregorian Chant, or plainsong, is the Church's most ancient form of chanted prayer, and perhaps its most haunting and beautiful. It can transport, delight and transform.

This recording is a snapshot of how we use plainsong at Portsmouth Cathedral, from the simplest of psalms as sung at weekday Evensong, or a great hymn marking a major Feast Day such as Veni Creator for Pentecost, or through its use in simple choir motets as set here by the Cathedral’s Director of Music, David Price.

Portsmouth Cathedral Choir is made up of 22 boy choristers and 12 gentlemen (including 6 Choral Scholars) who contribute to the pattern of daily cathedral worship. The choristers rehearse on weekday mornings at 8.00am, before a normal school day, in preparation for the week's music. In any normal week the Cathedral Choir sings for at least 6 services.

The Choir also sings at various special services and events both locally and internationally, and has toured Belgium, Holland, Sweden, France and, more recently, Estonia and Germany. At home in the UK they have also sung at St Paul's Cathedral, the Queen's private chapel at St George's in Windsor Castle and, most recently, at Westminster Abbey. The Choir was involved in the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, including two BBC Radio broadcasts and an International Drumhead Ceremony. The Cathedral Choir maintains strong links with the Royal Navy and takes part in a number of services for them, such as the annual Royal Marines Band Remembrance Service and the Second Sea Lord’s carol service on HMS Victory.

Contents:
1. Advent Prose  
arr. Stephen Cleobury

2. Hodie Christus Natus Est  
arr. Benjamin Britten

3. Verbum Infans  
David Price

4. Echo Carol  
David Price

5. Psalm 85  
Organ (improvised): Oliver Hancock

6. Missa de Angelis - Kyrie  
arr. Adrian Lucas

7. Missa de Angelis - Gloria  
arr. Adrian Lucas

8. Missa de Angelis - Sanctus & Benedictus  
arr. Adrian Lucas

9. Missa de Angelis - Agnus Dei  
arr. Adrian Lucas

10. Psalm 42  
Organ (Improvised): Oliver Hancock

11. Lent Prose  
arr. John Scott

12. Veni Creator Spiritus  
Plainsong

13. Missa Deus Genitor Alme - Kyrie  
Organ (Improvised): Oliver Hancock

14. Missa Deus Genitor Alme - Sanctus & Benedictus  
Organ (Improvised): Oliver Hancock

15. Missa Deus Genitor Alme - Agnus Dei  
Organ (Improvised): Oliver Hancock

16. Benedictus  
arr. David Price

17. Adoro te devote  
arr. David Price

18. Meditation on 'Adoro te dev  
Arthur Wills (played by David Price)