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  Temple Church Choir Classical Choir of Men and Boys 
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Temple Church Choir Several people have asked if the talk given Aug 2006 in Hereford on the soloists of the Temple Church Choir was recorded, as they would like to have a copy. The producer of the Louis-Alexander Désiré CD, which was recorded earlier in the day, did indeed record the talk and he has produced a limited edition CD complete with musical extracts, including some as yet unpublished in the series 'The Glory of the Temple Church Choir'. The cost of this CD is £5 plus postage

Recently rare archive footage of The Temple Church Choir has been discovered and it is hoped that more CD's will be issued shortly.

The photograph (above) shows the boys of The Temple Church Choir in 1981 taken shortly before the retirement of Sir George Thalben-Ball.

Two rare copies of David Lewer's "A Spiritual Song" are now available in very good condition. Details below. Please contact Stephen Beet.

StephenRBeet@gmail.com
Related Sites
Official Site: Temple Church Choir
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Official Site: The Temple Church Choir

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Featured Recordings Compact | Full
Temple Church Choir - A Festival of Psalms
A Festival of Psalms (Signum Classics SIGCD279, CD) January 2012
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
  1.   Chichester Psalms I - Bernstein   Treble soloist Frederick MacBruce
  2.   Chichester Psalms II - Berstein   Treble soloist Daniel Traves
  3.   Chichester Psalms III - Bernstein   Treble soloist Daniel Traves
  4.   Miserere mei, Deus - Allegri   Treble soloists Max Shotbolt, Frederick MacBruce, Luke McWatters
  5.   Teach me, O Lord - Byrd  
  6.   Ascribe unto the Lord - SS Wesley   Treble soloist Max Shotbolt, Frederick MacBruce, Daniel Traves
  7.   Thy word is a lantern unto my feet - Purcell  
  8.   Hear my words, ye people - Parry   Treble soloist Max Shotbolt (verses with Daniel Traves)
Temple Church Choir - A Spiritual Song
A Spiritual Song (Better Land CD1, CD) June 2011
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
This audio CD is a live recording of a talk given by Stephen Beet at Hereford in 2006, entitled 'A Spiritual Song' and tells the story of this most famous of choirs and its legendary solo choristers. Being sold at the special price of £5.00, plus postage, this CD talk contains much information not in his book "The Better Land - In Search of the Lost Boy Sopranos" and features numerous musical extracts, many of which come from unpublished recordings. Stephen draws freely on the published and unpublished works of the late David Lewer, the Temple's unofficial archivist and it is to him this talk was dedicated.
  1.   The history of the choir and its soloists   This talk takes us from the very beginnings of the Temple Church through to the re-formation of the choir of men and boys in 1842, and traces the many soloists whose voices have been lost for ever. From 1927 onwards, Mr. Beet illustrates his talk with recordings of the choir and famous soloists, including Ernest Lough's two recordings of Hear my Prayer (and Mr Beet shows us how we may identify the individual recordings from a careful listening) and many of the post war soloists. Finally, Mr Beet closes the talk (on the instructions of the late David Lewer) with the departure of George Thalben-Ball in 1981 after 63 years at the Temple. It is hoped that further records of the Temple Church Choir will be available on the new Better Land label soon.
Email   Purchase from Stephen Beet £5 plus postage
Temple Church Choir - The Majesty of Thy Glory
The Majesty of Thy Glory (Signum Classics SIGCD225, CD) December 2010
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
Already available directly from the choir as a pre-release since July 2010.
  1.   Te Deum in D - Purcell  
  2.   My Beloved Spake - Purcell  
  3.   Te Deum - Elgar  
  4.   Rejoice in the Lamb - Britten  
  5.   Te Deum 'Collegium Regale' - Howells  
Available at   Temple Music Online Shop
Temple Church Choir - The Glory of the Temple Church Choir, Volume Three
The Glory of the Temple Church Choir, Volume Three (Amphion PHI CD 210, CD) September 2004
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
Recorded 1960 - 1980

Soloists:
Bass: William Johannes. Tenor: Richard Dawson.
Trebles: David Abbott, Richard Matthews, Martin Griffiths & Ian le Grice.
Recorded in the Temple Church, London.
Organist & Director of the Choir: Dr. George Thalben-Ball

[1]-[5], [7]-[9], [11], [15] & [16] recorded April 1977 and issued in 1979 as L.P. record PVA 4917 545: Music from the Temple Church.
[13] & [14] from same sessions but unpublished.
[12] From Abbey L.P. record HMP 2280: The Temple Tradition. Recorded by Harry Mudd, 1980
[6] Private recording 1960. [10] Private recording 1976.
  1.   The Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth - George Thalben-Ball (1896-1987)  
  2.   Psalm 130 Chant, Psalm 48 Chant & Gloria Patri   George Thalben-Ball
  3.   Te Deum Laudamus in E flat - Gerald Bullivant  
  4.   Jubilate Deo in B flat - George Thalben-Ball  
  5.   The Greater Light - Martin Shaw (1875-1958)  
  6.   When Jesus was born (Christus) - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)  
  7.   Flocks in Pastures Green abiding - J.S. Bach (1685-1750)  
  8.   Nolo Mortem Peccatoris - Thomas Morley (1557-1602)  
  9.   The Strife is O'er - Melchior Vulpius (c.1570-1615)   arr. Henry Ley (1887-1962)
10.   He Was Despised (Messiah) - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)   Soloist: Martin Griffiths
11.   Doubt Not Thy Father's Care - Edward Elgar (1857-1934)  
12.   Kerygma - Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003)  
13.   Hymn of the Cherubim - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)  
14.   Splendente Te - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)  
15.   Where Thou Reignest - Franz Schubert (1797-1828)  
16.   Tarry No Longer - Walford Davies (1869-1941)  
Available at   Purchase from Stephen Beet Special discount on The Glory of the Temple Church Choir Vol. 1,2, & 3. This set is available at £30 post paid in UK. Please mention this when ordering by email. StephenRBeet@gmail.com
Temple Church Choir - The Glory of the Temple Church Choir, Volume Two
The Glory of the Temple Church Choir, Volume Two (Amphion PHI CD 181, CD) August 2002
Featuring Temple Church Choir   Denis Barthel   Master Douglas Horton   Ernest Lough   Ronald Mallett  
Recorded 1927 - 1950

Tracks 1-12: Temple Church Choir, Recorded 1927-1932
Tracks 13-19: The Templars' Male Voice Choir, Recorded 1948
Tracks 20-26: The Templars, Recorded 1950
  1.   Insanae et vanae curae (Haydn)   Rec. 1930
  2.   How Lovely is thy dwelling place (Brahms)   Rec 1928
  3.   Mine eyes have seen the glory (Davies)   Rec 1927
  4.   Hear Ye, Israel (Mendelssohn)   Rec 1927, Soloist: Ernest Lough
  5.   O Worship the King Rec 1929  
  6.   Turn back O man (Holst)   Rec 1930
  7.   For all the saints (Vaughan Williams)   Rec 1930
  8.   St Patricks Prayer (Burke)   Rec 1930
  9.   Jerusalem (Parry)   Rec 1932, Soloist: Dennis Barthel
10.   Hallelujah from Christ at the Mount of Olives (Beethoven)   Rec 1930
11.   Lead me , O Lord (Wesley)   Rec 1927, Soloists: Ronald Mallett and Douglas Horton
12.   Blessed be the God and the Father (Wesley)   Rec 1928, Soloists: Ernest Lough and Douglas Horton
13.   God rest ye merry, Gentlemen (trad)  
14.   A babe lies in the cradle (Corner)  
15.   Christ was born on Christmas Day (trad)  
16.   While shepherds watched their flocks  
17.   Childing of a maiden (trad)  
18.   We three kings of Orient are  
19.   Christmas is Coming/Wassail Carol  
20.   Away in a Manger  
21.   The First Nowell  
22.   See amid the winter's snow  
23.   Unto us a boy is born  
24.   Angels from the realms of Glory  
25.   O little town of Bethlehem  
26.   The Twelve Days of Christmas   Tenor: Harry Abbott, Bass: Ernest Lough
Email   Purchase from the Producer, Stephen Beet You can order the Better Land and Temple Church CDs directly from the producer Stephen Beet for £11.00 plus postage and packing. Please apply for postal rates and discounts on the set of both series. StephenRBeet@gmail.com Paypal address beetstphn@aol.com
Temple Church Choir - Master Ernest Lough - Hear My Prayer
Master Ernest Lough - Hear My Prayer (Pearl GEM 0145, CD) May 2002
Featuring Ernest Lough   Temple Church Choir  
See the original 78 rpm listings elsewhere on this page for full details of the tracks.
  1.   Hear my prayer (oh for the wings of a dove) (L)  
  2.   Hear ye Israel  
  3.   Oh come everyone that thirsteth  
  4.   I waited for the Lord  
  5.   I will sing of thy great mercies  
  6.   I know that my Redeemer liveth  
  7.   O filii et filiae  
  8.   King of glory  
  9.   Praise the Lord O my soul  
10.   Who is Sylvia  
11.   Hark hark the lark  
12.   Coronach  
13.   Come away death  
14.   Drink to me only with thine eyes  
15.   Two nursery rhymes  
16.   Hear ye Israel  
17.   Hear my prayer (oh for the wings of a dove)  
18.   Oh for the wings of a dove  
Available at   Amazon.uk
Available at   Crotchet Classics UK
Temple Church Choir - The Glory of the Temple Church Choir
The Glory of the Temple Church Choir (Amphion PHI CD 172, CD) January 2002
Featuring Temple Church Choir   Denis Barthel   Harold Langston   Ernest Lough   Ronald Mallett   Thomas Meddings  
"Doctor" George Thalben-Ball's famous choir, recorded 1922 - 1935.
The success of "The Better Land" series, featuring boy sopranos of the 20th century has awakened interest in that great choir to which several of the boys belonged, and in the man who trained them. Several of the "boys" have been closely involved with the preparation of this CD.
  1.   King of Glory  
  2.   I Waited for the Lord   Soloists: Ernest Lough and Ronald Mallett
  3.   O come everyone that thirsteth   Soloists: Lough and Mallett
  4.   How Lovely are the Messengers  
  5.   Lullay my Liking & There is no rose   Soloist: Dennis Barthel
  6.   See amid the winter's snow   Soloist: Barthel with tenor
  7.   O Little Town of Bethlehem   Soloist: Barthel
  8.   As pants the hart   Soloist: Thomas Meddings
  9.   Lord it belongs not to my care  
10.   Jesu joy of man's desiring  
11.   Blest are the departed   Soloist: Meddings
12.   He was despised   Soloist: Barthel
13.   Remember now thy creator   Soloists: Harold Langston and Barthel
14.   Oh for a closer walk with God   Soloist: Thomas Meddings (misattributed on CD as Langston)
15.   If ye love me, keep my commandments  
16.   O filii et filiae   Soloists: Lough and Horton
17.   Lord God of Heaven & Earth   Soloists: Meddings (soprano) and Dennys Lake (alto)
18.   Angels ever bright and fair   Soloist: Langston
19.   Psalm 150  
20.   Hear my Prayer   Soloist: Lough
21.   The Heavens are telling  
Email   Purchase from the Producer, Stephen Beet You can order the Better Land and Temple Church CDs directly from the producer Stephen Beet for £11.00 plus postage and packing. Please apply for postal rates and discounts on the set of both series. StephenRBeet@gmail.com Paypal address beetstphn@aol.com
no cover
Hymns from the Temple Church (HMV Classics 5 68775 2, CD) 1995
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
CD compilation from earlier LPs. 31 tracks.
Temple Church Choir - Oh For the Wings of a Dove - and all the complete 1927/8 recordings
Oh For the Wings of a Dove - and all the complete 1927/8 recordings (Pearl GEMM CD 9211, CD) 1992
Featuring Ernest Lough   Temple Church Choir  
Superseded by CD GEM 0145 (which has additional tracks).
  1.   Mendelssohn: Hear My Prayer... O for the wings of a dove (L)  
  2.   Mendelssohn: Eliah: Hear ye, Israel  
  3.   Mendelssohn: O come everyone  
  4.   Mendelssohn: I waited for the Lord  
  5.   Handel: Messiah: I know that my redeemer liveth  
  6.   Schubert: Who is Sylvia?  
  7.   Schubert: Hark! Hark! The Lark  
  8.   Brahms: Come away death  
  9.   Schubert: Coronach  
10.   Trad: Drink to me only with thine eyes  
11.   Two nursery rhymes  
Temple Church Choir - Oh For the Wings of a Dove
Oh For the Wings of a Dove (Pearl GEMM 211, LP) 1980
Featuring Ernest Lough   Temple Church Choir   Master Douglas Horton   Ronald Mallett  
Superseded by CD issue: GEMM 9211 (q.v.)
  1.   Mendelssohn: Hear My Prayer... O for the wings of a dove (L)  
  2.   Mendelssohn: Eliah: Hear ye, Israel  
  3.   Mendelssohn: O come everyone  
  4.   Mendelssohn: I waited for the Lord  
  5.   Handel: Messiah: I know that my redeemer liveth  
  6.   Schubert: Who is Sylvia?  
  7.   Schubert: Hark! Hark! The Lark  
  8.   Brahms: Come away death  
  9.   Schubert: Coronach  
10.   Trad: Drink to me only with thine eyes  
11.   Two nursery rhymes  
no cover
The Temple Tradition (Abbey Records HMP 2280 STEREO, LP) 1980
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
Under the direction of Dr. George Thalben-Ball with The Royal College of Music Orchestra, conducted by Sir David Willcocks.
  1.   Concertos No. 6 in B Flat and No. 4 in D Minor  
  2.   Sursum Corda  
  3.   Solemn Melody  
  4.   Comfort Ye  
  5.   Kerygma  
  6.   Tarry No Longer  
  7.   Hear My Prayer  
Temple Church Choir - Lift up your heads
Lift up your heads (EMI CSD 3627, LP) 1967
Featuring Temple Church Choir   Graham Lough   Ernest Lough (non-treble)  
Hymns and organ voluntaries. Graham Lough duets with his father Ernest, now a baritone, on two tracks.
  1.   Jesu lover of my soul (Aberystwyth) (Wesley-Parry)  
  2.   O day of God (Bellwoods) (Scott-Hopkirk)   Soloists: Graham Lough (treble); Ernest Lough (baritone)
  3.   Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Ebenezer) (Dix-Williams)  
  4.   Help us to help each other (Dunfermline) (Wesley-Scottish Psalter)  
  5.   Loving shepherd of thy sheep (Buckland) (Leeson-Hayne)   Soloist: Michael James (treble)
  6.   Thou, whose almighty word (Moscow) (Marriott-de Giardini)  
  7.   Be thou my guardian (Abridge) (Williams-Smith)  
  8.   Lift up your heads (Crucis Victoria) (Montgomery-Foster)  
  9.   What sorrow sore (O Traurigkeit) (Rist-Schop)   Soloists: Graham Lough (treble); Ernest Lough (baritone)
10.   Spirit of mercy (Melcombe) (Words from Foundling Hospital Collection-Webbe)  
11.   Blessed Jesus (Liebster Jesu) (Clausnitzer-Ahle)  
12.   Love divine (Hyfrydol) (Wesley-Prichard)  
Temple Church Choir - Favourite Hymns from the Temple Church
Favourite Hymns from the Temple Church (EMI ESD 7136, LP) 1962
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
Organist and Choir Master: Dr. George Thalben-Ball
  1.   Jesu, joy of man's desiring (J. S. Bach arr. Thalben-Ball)   solo oboe: Leon Goossens
  2.   o come, all ye faithful (Trad arr. Chambers)  
  3.   The King of love my Shepherd is (A.&M. No.197; Baker-Dykes)  
  4.   Soldiers of Christ, arise (A.&M. No.303; Wesley-Monk)  
  5.   Help us to help each other ('Dunfermline'; Wesley-Scottish Psalter)  
  6.   Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep ('Buckland'; Leeson-Hayne)  
  7.   Solemn Melody (Walford Davies)   organ voluntary
  8.   Dear Lord and Father of mankind ('Repton'; Parry-Whittier)  
  9.   Alleluia, sing to Jesus ('Ebenezer'; Dix-Williams)  
10.   Blessed Jesus ('Liebster Jesu'; Clausnitzer-Ahle)  
11.   Be Thou my Guardian ('Abridge'; Williams-Smith)  
12.   Lift up your heads ('Crucis Victoria'; Montgomery-Foster)  
13.   Spirit of Mercy ('Melcombe'; Webbe)   words from the Foundling Hospital Collection
14.   Thou, Whose Almighty Word ('Moscow'; Marriott-de Giardini)  
15.   Trumpet Voluntary (Stanley)   organ only
16.   All people that on Earth do dwell ('Old 100th'; Bourgeois-Kethe)  
17.   O praise ye the Lord ('Laudate Dominum'; Parry)  
18.   The Lord's my Shepherd ('Crimond'; Irivine arr. Pritchard)  
19.   Hark, what a sound ('Highwood'; Terry-Myers)  
20.   Love Divine, all loves excelling ('Love Divine'; Stainer-Wesley)  
21.   God be in my head (Walford Davies-Stanton)  
22.   For the beauty of the Earth ('Lucerna Laudoniae'; Evans-Pierpoint)   soloists: Ernest Lough (baritone), Robin Lough (treble)
23.   All hail the Pow'r of Jesus' Name ('Ladywell'; Ferguson-Perronet-Rippon)  
24.   The day Thou gavest ('St. Clement'; Scholefield-Ellerton)  
25.   My spirit longs for Thee ('Maria Jung und Zait'; Byrom)  
26.   O worship the King ('Hanover'; Croft)  
Temple Church Choir - Music of the Service of the Temple Church
Music of the Service of the Temple Church (His Master's Voice CLP1529, LP) 1962
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
Organist and Director of Music Dr George Thalben-Ball with Leon Gossens (Oboe). Also on EMI CSD 1415.
  1.   Blessed Are The Pure In Heart (Walford-Davies)  
  2.   The Lord Is My Shepherd (Walmisley)  
  3.   I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (Walford Davies)  
  4.   Te Deum In C Major (Thalben-Ball)  
  5.   Jubilate In G Major (Walford Davies)  
  6.   Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring (Bach)  
  7.   The King Of Love My Shepherd Is (Dykes)  
  8.   Soldiers Of Christ Arise! (Monk)  
  9.   O Praise God In His Holiness (Stanford)  
10.   If Any Man Will Follow Me (Thalben-Ball)  
11.   The Earth Is The Lord's (Thalben-Ball)  
12.   Magnificat In C Major (Thalben-Ball)  
13.   Nunc Dimittis (THalben-Ball)  
14.   How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place (Brahms)  
15.   Come Down O Love Divine (Vaughan Williams)  
16.   Forth In Thy Name O Lord I Go (Gibbons)  
17.   Trumpet Tune (Stanley)  
Temple Church Choir - Favourite Hymns and Organ Voluntaries
Favourite Hymns and Organ Voluntaries (EMI CLP 1452, LP) 1961
Featuring Temple Church Choir   Robin Lough   Ernest Lough (non-treble)  
Organist and Choir Master Dr. George Thalben-Ball. Soloists Ernest Lough and Robin Lough on one track.
  1.   Voluntary on the Old 100th (Purcell)   Organ solo by Dr. George Thalben-Ball
  2.   All people that on earth do dwell (Old 100th) (Bourgeois-Kethe)  
  3.   Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (Repton) (Parry-Whittier)  
  4.   O praise ye the Lord (Laudate Dominum) (Parry)  
  5.   The Lord’s my Shepherd (Crimond) (Irvine)  
  6.   Hark, what a sound (Highwood) (Terry-Myers)  
  7.   Love Divine, all loves excelling (Love Divine) (Stainer-Wesley)  
  8.   God be in my head (Walford Davies-Stanton)  
  9.   Solemn Melody (Walford Davies)  
10.   Fantasia in C (Bach – completed and edited by Hermann-Keller)   Organ solo by Dr. George Thalben-Ball
11.   Jesus, Blessed Saviour (vv 1, 3 & 5 Eudoxia (Gould-Faber (vv 2, 4 & 6 Caswall (Filitz-Faber)   Soloist: Ian Le Grice
12.   For the beauty of the earth (Lucerna Laudonia) (Evans-Pierpoint)   Soloists: Ernest Lough (baritone), Robin Lough (treble)
13.   All hail the Pow’r of Jesus’ Name (Ladywell) (Ferguson-Perronet-Rippon)  
14.   The day Thou gavest (St. Clement) (Scholefield-Ellerton)  
15.   My spirit longs for Thee (Maria Jung und Zait) (Byrom)  
16.   O worship the King (Hanover) (Croft)  
17.   Now thank we all our God (Nun Danket) (Crüger-Rinkart translated by Winkworth)  
18.   Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)   Organ solo by Dr. George Thalben-Ball
no cover
Leon Goossens at the Temple Church (EMI RES 4291 , LP) 1961
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
Temple Church Choir - Christmas Carols
Christmas Carols (Angel 535 834, LP) 1959
Featuring Temple Church Choir   Robin Lough  
Robin Lough solos in one track
  -19.   Hark! The herald angels sing  
  2.   What sweeter music (spoken)  
  3.   God rest you merry, gentlemen  
  4.   Gabriel's message  
  5.   O child most holy  
  6.   While shepherds watched  
  7.   Come let us unite  
  8.   Angels from the realms of glory  
  9.   Three kings  
10.   Unto us a boy is born  
11.   Christ was born on Christmas Day  
12.   Away in a manger  
13.   In dulci jubilo  
14.   The holly and the ivy  
15.   Shepherds, in the field abiding  
16.   The first Nowell  
17.   O come, all ye faithful  
18.   Sing heaven imperial (spoken)  
19.   Gloria in excelsis Deo  
Singles Compact | Full
Temple Church Choir - Leon Goossens at the Temple Church
Leon Goossens at the Temple Church (EMI 7ER 5205, 45rpm Single) 1961
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
EP of four popular pieces, with Dr. George Thalben-Ball at the organ.
  1.   Jesu, Joy of man's desiring (Bach, arr. Thalben-Ball)   with the Temple Church Choir
  2.   Where'er you walk (Handel, arr. Thalben-Ball)   with Edward Walker and George Crozier, Flutes.
  3.   Largo (Handel)   with Renata Scheffel-Stein, Harp.
  4.   Sheep may safely graze (Bach)   with Edward Walker and George Crozier, Flutes.
Temple Church Choir - Hear Ye Israel
Hear Ye Israel (HMV , 45rpm Single) 1960
Featuring Ernest Lough   Temple Church Choir   Ronald Mallett  
Originally recorded in 1928.
  1.   Hear Ye Israel  
  2.   I Waited for the Lord   Duet with Ronald Mallett
no cover
Temple Church Choir (EMI 7EG 8614 , 45rpm Single) 1960
Featuring Temple Church Choir   Robin Lough  
EP of two organ solos and two anthems. 'The Souls of the Righteous' by Nares and 'O taste and see' by Vaughan Williams. Robin Lough sings solo in both and is joined by Ian le Grice in the Nares. Organ solos: Thalben Ball plays his own 'Elegy' and Gigout's 'Toccata in B minor'.
Temple Church Choir - Mendelssohn: Hear My Prayer / Oh for the Wings of a Dove
Mendelssohn: Hear My Prayer / Oh for the Wings of a Dove (HMV 7P111, 45rpm Single)
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
Other Recordings Compact | Full
Temple Church Choir - The Better Land Volume 2: Great Boy Sopranos 1930 - 1950
The Better Land Volume 2: Great Boy Sopranos 1930 - 1950 (Amphion PHI CD 159, CD) 2000
Featuring Derek Barsham   The Better Land Series   Billy Neely   Denis Barthel   Harold Langston   Thomas Meddings   Graham Payn   Temple Church Choir   Denis Wright  
This volume is now deleted but replaced by the double CD volume The Better Land Volumes 1 & 2. See above.
  1.   Jerusalem (Parry-Blake) (L)   Master Denis Barthel
  2.   Silent Worship (Handel-Somervell) (L)   Master Derek Barsham
  3.   Passing By (E. Purcell-Herrick) (L)   Master Derek Barsham
  4.   Ninepenny Fiddle (Trad- arr. Moore) (L)   Master Billy Neely (1950)
  5.   Lark in the Clear Air (Trad) (L)   Master Billy Neely (1950)
  6.   Cradle Song (Schubert-Claudius)   Master Denis Wright
  7.   I'll Walk Beside You (Murray-Lockton) (L)   Master Derek Barsham
  8.   Beyond the Dawn (Sanderson-Weatherly)   Master Derek Barsham
  9.   The Birds (Britten-Belloc) (L)   Master Billy Neely
10.   Child & the Twilight (arr Moore)   Master Billy Neely (1950)
11.   Remember now thy Creator (Sterndale-Bennett)   Masters Harold Langston & Denis Barthel, with the choir of the Temple Church, London.
Recorded July 1930. Acc. Dr. George Thalben Ball. Unpublished recording 3rd. July 1930.
12.   Lullay Myn Lyking (Trad 15th Cent-Terry) (L)   Master Denis Barthel
13.   Uncle Mac's Favourite Hymns: All Things Bright & Beautiful, There's a Friend for Little Chil   Master Denis Wright with the Greenbank Children's Choir
14.   Hymn that I Sang as a Boy (Miller-Burnaby)   Master Graham Payn
15.   Meadowsweet (April)   Master Graham Payn (1933)
16.   Anchor Song (Smith)   Master Derek Barsham
17.   A Fairy Story by the Fire (Merikanto)   Master Billy Neely
18.   Vergin Tutt 'Amor (Francesco Durante) (L)   Master Billy Neely
19.   Star of Bethlehem (Adams-Weatherly)   Master Derek Barsham
20.   As Pants the Hart (Spohr) (L)   Master Thomas Meddings with the choir of the Temple Church
21.   Il Mio Bel Foco (Benedetto Marcello-Baker)   Master Billy Neely
22.   "The Libertine: Nymphs & Shepherds"   Master Derek Barsham.
Transcription disc of B.B.C. Children's Hour broadcast, with Nancy Phillips, violin. First issue on "Better Land" vol. 2.
23.   Cherry Ripe (Hurn-Herrick) (L)   Master Billy Neely (1949)
24.   Halleluja (Easter Hymn dating from 1623)   Master Denis Barthel
25.   Star of God (Coates-Murray) (L)   Master Derek Barsham.
Recorded 3 or 4 May 1946 with piano accomp. Live direct-disc recording at the Royal Albert Hall during the Boys' Brigade Annual Display, Physical Phantasmagoria. First issue on "Better Land" vol. 2.
Review at   The Better Land
Email   Purchase from Stephen Beet
Books Compact | Full
Temple Church Choir - Better Land, The: In Search of the Lost Boy Sopranos
Better Land, The: In Search of the Lost Boy Sopranos (Rectory Press , Book) April 2005
Featuring The Better Land Series   Temple Church Choir   Clifford Adams   Derek Barsham   Denis Barthel   John Bonner   Richard Bonsall   Alan Bradbrook   Master John Brookman   Richard Brown   Master Gordon Carter   Master (Arthur) Iwan Davies   Master Leslie Day   Robin Fairhurst   Frederick (John) Firth   Michael Ginn   John Gwilym Griffith(s)   Robert Harris   Michael Hartnett   Aled Jones   Beverley Jones   Raymond Kinsey   Harold Langston   Ernest Lough   Robin Lough   Thomas Meddings   Brian Moody   Billy Neely   Graham Payn   Robert Duncan Peel   Kenneth Purves   The Choir of the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy   Steffani and his Silver Songsters   Thomas Tweedy   Denis Wright  
By Stephen Beet. Features much newly-discovered material, telling the often very human stories of the boys behind the voices, at the height of their singing careers and in their later lives. Copiously illustrated with many previously-unpublished photographs and manuscript samples, with a Foreword by Peter Purves.

As well as chapters on Iwan Davies, Derek Barsham, and Denis Wright, amongst others there are also chapters under the following headings: The Temple Boys, The Manchester Boys, The Music Hall Boys, The Fleeting Boys, and The Broadcast Boys.

This book is available directly from the author: Contact StephenRBeet@gmail.com Price £10 plus postage

This book is available for the cost of postage and packing only if the set of six The Better Land CD albums is ordered.
Email   Stephen Beet The book costs £10 plus postage. Cheque or PayPal.
Temple Church Choir - Spiritual Song: The Story of the Temple Choir and a History of Divine Service in the Temple Church
Spiritual Song: The Story of the Temple Choir and a History of Divine Service in the Temple Church (The Templars Union (London) , Book) 1961
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
by David (James) Lewer (d.2005). 504 pages, 22 cm, illus. incl. map & plans of the Temple Church. Mr. Lewer, a chorister of the Temple Church 1931-33 under Sir Walford, traces the Temple Church from its roots through the Thalben-Ball years with special attention given to Hopkins, Davies, and Thalben-Ball. In many respects it is the most thought-provoking and moving book about the English choral tradition in my library, but I'll save my superlatives for another day — Review by S. Rhode.

Copies of this rare book may be available from StephenRBeet@gmail.com Price upon application. Please ask for condition report.
Temple Church Choir - George Thalben-Ball
George Thalben-Ball (David & Charles 0-751-7863-5, Book) 1979
Featuring Temple Church Choir  
by Jonathan Rennert. Another one of those well-intentioned books that fails to live up expectations. One gets the impression that the author was hampered in telling his tale by the limitations of writing about someone who still alive and well at the time of its publication. Either that or this is the antithesis of Howells' dictum about musicians and prose. The book does help to complete the Temple Church story, but from a literary point of view it reads a bit like the stock market page. Don't bother. — Review by S. Rhode
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