Heaven Full of Stars Martin Ford, Vasari Singers & Jeremy Backhouse

• Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977):
• 1 Stars (Version for Mixed Choir) 04:46
• Jonathan Dove (b. 1959):
• 2 Seek Him That Maketh the Seven Stars 06:31
• Ēriks Ešenvalds:
• 3 O salutaris hostia (Version for Mixed Choir) 03:31
• Patrick Gowers (1936 - 2014):
• 4 Viri Galilaei 07:54
• Philip Stopford (b. 1977):
• 5 Ave Maria (Arr. for Choir & Organ) 03:59
• Cecilia McDowall (b. 1951):
• 6 Aurea luce 05:57
• Rihards Dubra (b. 1964):
• 7 O crux ave 02:19
• Roxanna Panufnik (b. 1968):
• 8 Deus est caritas 04:10
• Will Todd (b. 1970 ):
• 9 Christ Is the Morning Star 05:03
• John Rutter (b. 1945):
• 10 For the Beauty of the Earth (Version for Mixed Choir & Organ) 04:04
• Paul Mealor (b. 1975):
• 11 Ave maris stella 04:05
• Judith Weir (b. 1954):
• 12 2 Human Hymns: No. 2, Like to the Falling of a Star 03:18
• Eric Whitacre (b. 1970):
• 13 Lux aurumque (Version for Mixed Choir) 03:22
• Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962):
• 14 Creator of the Stars of Night 04:33
• Bob Chilcott (b. 1955):
• 15 Salisbury Motets: No. 1, I Sing of a Mayden 03:55
• 16 Salisbury Motets: No. 2, When to the Temple Mary Went 03:31
• 17 Salisbury Motets: No. 3, Lovely Tear of Lovely Eye 06:06
• 18 Salisbury Motets: No. 4, Hail, Star of the Sea Most Radiant 03:01
• Total Runtime 01:20:05

Info for Heaven Full of Stars

Contemporary sacred choral music has been central to the repertoire of Vasari Singers throughout its existence, and to mark its 40th anniversary it has selected a sequence of anthems, mostly with starbased themes, the vast majority of which are by living composers. The rich variety to be heard reflects the choirs commitment to the genre, whether in the ecstasy of riks Eenvalds, the serenity of Jonathan Dove, the shimmering harmonies of Eric Whitacre, or the ethereal beauties of Paul Mealor.

"2020 would have been some year for the Vasari Singers, given that it marked our 40th anniversary; much had been planned by way of musical and social celebration. Instead, with only one public appearance in Canterbury Cathedral in February under our belts, COVID-19 struck. The disc that we recorded in October 2019 has therefore assumed ever deeper significance for me and the choir, and has become for us a lone bright light showcasing the very best of British contemporary sacred choral music – thrilling, moving, spiritually uplifting – at a time when choirs across the globe are struggling to make themselves heard." (Jeremy Backhouse)

Martin Ford, organ
Muriel Daniels, cello
Sarah Mistry, bels
Vasari Singers
Jeremy Backhouse, conductor

Jeremy Backhouse
is one of Britain’s leading conductors of amateur choirs. He has been the sole conductor of the Vasari Singers since its inception in 1980 and is committed to contemporary music and to the commissioning of new works, from small anthems to works on the grandest scale. Backhouse has also worked with a number of the UK’s other leading choirs, including the BBC Singers, London Symphony Chorus, Philharmonia Chorus and Brighton Festival Chorus.

Vasari Singers
perform a wide range of repertoire, from Renaissance to contemporary. The choir’s extensive discography includes a large collection of premiere recordings, many of which are of works commissioned by the choir, as well as two collections of Christmas music. Many of the choir’s recordings have received high acclaim, achieving chart successes and similar recommendations.

Martin Ford
is the organist and director of music at The Guards’ Chapel in London. He read music at Oxford University before continuing his studies at the Royal College of Music. Ford has held organ scholarships at Southwark Cathedral and Magdalen College, Oxford, and has served as assistant organist at St Martin-in-the-Fields and Westminster Abbey, and sub-organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.

Booklet for Heaven Full of Stars