ReviewElton is close to the centre of Bury and the original All Saints Church was deconsecrated about 1997 and is now fashionable apartments, but in 1976 it had supported a very good choir. There were no women choristers at the time of this recording, though there had been for a few years previously. I was loaned this record by a friend who had sung there earlier, and on playing it my expectations were greatly exceeded.
The choir is here supported by a fine organ (by Jardine), with that sought-after attribute of never going sharp following unaccompanied verses! William Thomas brings a good sense of dynamics to the works, while the intonantion is never in doubt.
The record starts with the hymn Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken, to the tune "Austria" by Haydn.
Psalm 75 is sung to the familiar Chant by George Elvey.
The hymn Bright The Vision That Delighted is not sung to the stated tune but to "Redhead" by Richard Redhead, with two verses unaccompanied and two with the descant arrangement by Percy Whitlock.
Good King Wenceslas uses the familiar arrangement by Reginald Jaques
The recording quality is a little variable, sometimes having the organ in the background, at other times nicely balanced; some quiet tracks reveal a persistent rattling noise, but overall the sound is good. If there had been a follow-up record they would be worthy of commercial release on a CD, which I would gladly buy.