The first recorded performance of the Davison TTBB setting of the Miserere by an American collegiate choir in a purely sacred context. As to be expected from the choir of a religious seminary, the singing is of a higher standard, but interestingly the performance matches many of the glee club performances in style, tempo and use of dynamics.
The Masterwork Chorus, directed by noted classical choral director, David Randolph, is devoted to singing the “works of the Masters”, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc. During the 1956-1957 season, the group will present works by Bach, Allegri, Lasso, Lotti, Monteverdi and Schütz. And in January, 1957, the Chorus will be commercially recorded – binaurally – by the Westminster Recording Company (The Item of Millburn and Short Hills, Millburn, New Jersey, 30th August 1956)
The best of the Glee Club recordings to date – a degree of expressiveness and quality not even seen in the Harvard performances. In fact, the whole album is a delight, no doubt aided by the quality of the recording and the near-mint condition of the copy.
A recording believed made during the annual Choral Concert in 1967 which featured the Caltech Glee Club, the UCLA Women’s Choir, and the Caltech Chamber Singers.
Whereas little is known of Fordham University Glee Club’s first recording of the Miserere, by contrast this recording at the Glee Club’s 50th Annual Concert in 1973 is well documented, and has been preserved and made available by the present Glee Club. The Miserere is presented in a section of sacred music alongside works by Perotin, and a rousing performance of Hassler’s ‘Cantate Domino’. Later pieces in the concert include some fine close harmony singing – especially ‘Mr Sandman’ by the “Ramblers of Rose Hill”
Another outstanding Glee Club performance of the Davison arrangement for mens voices. The pedal ‘D’ in the bass in the final cadence is especially fine. We have been unable to locate the venue for this recording – please get in touch if you can help with any information.