Psalm 23

Op. 9, c.1904,1944–45†, reconstructed 1944-45, 15:30

Full score lost 1920, reconstructed 1944-45

tenor solo, SATB chorus
2 flutes (1 also picc), 2 oboes (1 also cor anglais), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, glockenspiel, cymbals, bass drum, side drum, harp, organ, strings

Text: Book of Common Prayer, trans Miles Coverdale (1535), religious sources

Musica Viva published a facsimile vocal score in 1970s, now out of print
United Music Publishing Limited

Timings

Heltay (CBS) 1974Cervenka 1988Bostock 2002
Total15:3915:1715:31

Articles

• Preparing Psalm 23 for performance – Elizabeth Hanmore
  Preparations for the 1988 performance in Worthing
• Psalm 23 - Early Brian or late? Some subjective observations – Malcolm MacDonald
  A discussion on the dating of Psalm 23

Performances

10 March 1973 [first performance] All Saint’s Church, Hove
12 April 1973 BBC Radio Brighton, repeated 15 April 1973
Stuart Holland (ten), Brighton Festival Chorus, Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra, conductor Laszlo Heltay
10 April 1974 Hove Town Hall
Paul Taylor (tenor), Brighton Festival Chorus, Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra, conductor Laszlo Heltay
30 August 1974
live broadcast BBC Radio 3
Paul Taylor (ten), Brighton Festival Chorus, Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra, conductor Laszlo Heltay
9 June 1975 St Thomas’ Church, Stoke-onTrent, UK (Penhull Festival)
John Wilbraham (tpt), Michael Laird (tpt), Leslie Pearson (org), Stoke-on-Trent Bedford Singers, conductor May Walley
5 October 1975
Brisbane and Sydney area
6 March 1976 Clare College Chapel, Cambridge, UK
Clare College Music Society
26 December 1976
Brisbane and Sydney area
11 September 1977
Brisbane and Sydney area
9 May 1987 [performance without orchestra]
Davis (ten), choirs, conductor Philip Litchfield
• Review of Litchfield performance – David J Brown
15 May 1988 [first professional performance] Assembly Hall, Worthing, Sussex
David Maxwell Anderson (ten), Worthing Philharmonic Choir, Worthing Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jan Cervenka
• Preparing Psalm 23 for performance – Elizabeth Hanmore
27 August 1992 Three Choirs Festival, Gloucester
Maldwyn Davies (ten), Three Choirs Festival Chorus [Hereford and Worcester sections], Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Roy Massey
14 July 2002 Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Kevin Matthews (ten), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Douglas Bostock
• Recording Brian in Liverpool – Lewis Foreman

Recordings

Klassic Haus Restorations KHCD-2012-019 released February 2012
Heritage Records HTGCD 256/7 (2 discs) released September 2013
10 April 1974 Hove Town Hall
Paul Taylor (tenor), Brighton Festival Chorus, Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra, conductor Laszlo Heltay
Classico Records CLASSCD 456 released October 2002
14 July 2002 Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Kevin Matthews (ten), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Douglas Bostock
• Elgar & The English Choral Tradition
• Psalm 23 on CD