Bur 9 Five Psalms for Choir and Organ

Contents

Prelude
Psalm 46
Psalm 130
Psalm 23
Psalm 137
Psalm 114
Covenanters Tune and Descants

Composer’s notes:
Psalm 23 was written for Percy Hallam Esq., and the Bury Bach Choir, and performed at Bury November 1936. First performance at the Great Meeting Leicester, January 1935.

The remainder was written for Victoria Road Church Choir Leicester, and the complete work first sung at the Church January 28th 1937.

First performance of Psalm 114 was at the Great Meeting October 1936.

The Prelude is based on themes taken from each of the settings. “Covenanters” tune (the traditional Scotch tune to the metrical version of Psalm 23) appears twice in the organ part of the setting of that Psalm.

It is suggested that the hymn ‘The Lord’s my shepherd’ to the tune ‘Covenanters’ with descants follow immediately after Psalm 130, and be sung by the Choir only.

Editor's Note

The Five Psalms fo choir and organ have received several performances in Leicester since the composer’s own notes were written; the first performance in the USA as given in 1981 by the choir of the University of Evansville, Indiana, conducted by Dennis Sheppard, a staunch advocate of Burrows’ music. Performances were also given in Boston Parish Church by the Boston Choral Society under Dr Bernard Jackson in 1939 and 1940, and in Leicester Cathedral by the Leicester Bach Choir under G C Gray Esq., in 1937.

A specially auditioned choir, the Burrows Choir, was assembled in 1985, and, after a civic performance in Bishop Street Methodist Church, the work was recorded in St John’s Church, Clarendon Park Road, Leicester in May 1986. The recording (ENV 026) is available from the British Music Society via Mr Stephen Trowell, 7 Tudor Gardens, Upminster, Essex RM14 3DE.