New Millennium Choir of St. Johns College & Andrew Nethsingha

• James MacMillan (b. 1959):
• 1MacMillan: O Give Thanks unto the Lord06:19
• David Nunn (b. 1997):
• 2Nunn: Sitivit anima mea06:27
• Judith Weir (b. 1954):
• 3Weir: Vertue: I. Vertue03:47
• Abbie Betinis (b. 1980):
• 4Betinis: Cedit, Hyems03:02
• Ben Comeau (b. 1993):
• 5Comeau: Vanity of Vanities05:08
• Piers Connor Kennedy:
• 6Connor Kennedy: O nata lux01:43
• Iain Farrington (b. 1977):
• 7Farrington: Celebration02:03
• Janet Wheeler (b. 1957):
• 8Wheeler: Alleluia, I Heard a Voice04:16
• Judith Weir:
• 9Weir: Leaf from leaf Christ Knows03:56
• Iain Farrington:
• 10Farrington: Conversations02:22
• Abbie Betinis:
• 11Betinis: Carmina mei cordis: I. Aeterna lux, divinitas01:37
• Anna Semple:
• 12Semple: Oriens...04:48
• Sophie Westbrooke (b. 1978):
• 13Westbrooke: Quiet Stream05:22
• Francis Pott (b. 1957):
• 14Pott: Laudes03:55
• Alexander Hopkins:
• 15Hopkins: Salvator mundi, Domine06:04
• David Nunn:
• 16Nunn: oh pristine example06:19
• Cheryl Frances-Hoad (b. 1980):
• 17Frances-Hoad: A Blessing01:45
• Iain Farrington:
• 18Farrington: Nova, Nova04:26
• Total Runtime01:13:19

Info for New Millennium

“Contemporary music and Commissioning have been central features of the last fifteen years at St John’s. It’s been a joy to work with talented student composers, singers and instrumental- ists; my own musicianship has been greatly enriched by their creativity and energy… After a 30-month break from sessions during the pandemic, we were very pleased to be able to record again in 2022. The material on this album comes from various times of year, whilst we were also continuing our Magnificat series. For the final sessions in December the outdoor temperature was forty degrees colder than it had been for the previous recording in July! The personnel of the lower voices had also largely changed, but I hope you will hear a successful continuity of sound- world. All the composers are alive today but, at the suggestion of one of them, we have omitted dates of birth so as not to intrude on their privacy. I’ve curated a sequence of music which aims to celebrate some of the broad range of styles in 21st-century choral writing. The premiere of Iain Farrington’s Nova Nova was the final piece in my last St John’s broadcast – I have often enjoyed pushing the boundaries of the Anglican choral tradition!” (Andrew Nethsingha)

"The choir's musicianship is superb and its vocal balance perfectly calibrated; the textures vibrant and the sensuous beauty of the John's sound is expertly captured by Signum. New Millennium demonstrates how young composers are expanding traditional notions of how music can interact with faith…A valuable addition to the choral library." (BBC Music Magazine)

Choir of St John's College Cambridge
Joseph Hancock, tenor
Alasdair Austin, countertenor
Alexander Semple, violin
Sophie Westbrooke, recorder
George Herbert, organ
Andrew Nethsingha, conductor

The Choir of St John’s College Cambridge
is one of the finest collegiate choirs in the world – known and loved by millions from its broadcasts, concert tours and 100 recordings. Founded in the 1670s, the Choir is known for its rich, warm and distinctive sound, its expressive interpretations and its ability to sing in a variety of styles. Alongside this discipline, the Choir is particularly proud of its happy, relaxed and mutually supportive atmosphere.

The Choir is directed by Andrew Nethsingha, following in a long line of eminent Directors of Music, recently Dr George Guest, Dr Christopher Robinson and Dr David Hill. The choir's first release on its imprint with Signum Classics, Deo, won the Choral Award at the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2017.

Andrew Nethsingha
Performing in North America, South Africa, the Far East, and throughout Europe, Andrew Nethsingha has been Director of Music at St John’s College, Cambridge since 2007. He has helped to set up a new recording label, ‘St John’s Cambridge,’ in conjunction with Signum. His first disc on the new label, DEO (music by Jonathan Harvey), was a 2017 BBC Music Magazine Award winner. Andrew Nethsingha was a chorister at Exeter Cathedral, under his father’s direction. He later studied at the Royal College of Music, where he won seven prizes, and at St John’s College, Cambridge. He held Organ Scholarships under Christopher Robinson at St George’s Windsor, and George Guest at St John’s, before becoming Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral. He was subsequently Director of Music at Truro and Gloucester Cathedrals, and Artistic Director of the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival.

Booklet for New Millennium