Stream those sacred Ayres?

 

We miss Soundbites at All Saints, along with so many other things, and I notice that one of our artists’ music has just been released by the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge. The composer is Paul Ayres, who visited us a couple of years ago, playing his unique mix of organ music. Paul played his own compositions plus his own special arrangements of old and new.

Paul’s organ music has been released on Priory Records, entitled “Rainbow Toccatas”. Who can forget his Mostly Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor? Classic. Then he melds Bach’s Ich steh’ mit einem Fuss im Grabe with Hey Jude so that they imperceptably come together, so to speak. Perhaps lyrically,  too, the German for ‘I am standing with one foot in the grave’ fits well with ‘Don’t make it bad, take a sad song and make it better’ although we may have to wait a long time for a choral version.

The new release of Paul’s collected music for churches is now available on CD or streaming, and it features a selection of anthems – When I consider, God be in my head - and hymns – Be thou my Vision, Let all Mortal flesh keep silence - and some very interesting spirituals such as Deep River and Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel. Classics. It is called Sacred Ayres. If streaming, search for the choir not the title, though. I would single out his re-imagining of The Lord’s my Shepherd, which brings to it a special touch which brightens up the slightly dreary Crimond tune to suit the inspired, comforting, hopeful words of Psalm 23. Paul has made the organ backdrop to sound like J.S.Bach, perhaps as in Jesu joy or the Brandenburg Concertos. It is impressive how Paul brings something special to well-known church music, and Selwyn College Choir have presented a beautiful collection of his sacred arrangements.

Just in case, Paul's website is https://www.paulayres.co.uk/cd/sacredayres for the CD and much more!