Search - T. Tomkins, Windsor, C. Robinson :: Cathedral Music

This generous collection of anthems by Thomas Tomkins shows only a small portion of his vast output in this genre. The quality of the music is consistently very high, reflecting Tomkins's early studies with William Byrd, his respected position as a member of the Chapel Royal, and his long residency at Worcester Cathedral. Fortunately, much of Tomkins's music survives in manuscripts from the composer's time, so questions of authenticity and accuracy are largely nonexistent. Tomkins composed a large quantity of verse anthems, in which solo voices alternate with full choir, accompanied by organ. Since Tomkins was an accomplished organist, many of the organ parts are quite demanding. Several of these appear on this program, interspersed with full choir anthems and a beautiful Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. The highlight of the disc is a Tomkins's masterpiece--"When David Heard"--whose melodious harmony overwhelmed contemporary listeners and has the same power today. --David Vernier