IAN ANDERSON RECOMMENDS

On this page you will find a regularly updated list of Ian Anderson’s current recommendations.

Dissona’s cover of “The Whistler.”

 
 

The Gloucester Magnificat

The Gloucester Magnificat by John O’Hara was commissioned by the Friends of Gloucester Cathedral in 2016. Adrian Partington conducted the five choirs of the cathedral with Jonathan Hope on organ and Nia Llewelyn Jones leading the junior choir. The world première was 8th July 2017. Adrian and John recorded the full concert in the historic cathedral early in 2018 and this disc is available from the Gloucester Cathedral shop.

As well as O’Hara’s new composition, the CD includes a Latin Magnificat by C.V. Stanford, a Blues Magnificat by Farrington, A Brazilian Psalm, Four Spirituals, Ave Verum Corpus re-imagined by Rodrick Williams and R. Shepherds, Magnificat in C. John wishes to thank the Friends, Adrian, Helen Sims and all at Gloucester Cathedral for there support in making this project possible.

http://www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk/visit/what-to-see-and-do/gift-shop/

Son of a Bach

Hello all. In checking out various versions of my Bach cover “Bouree” I came across a great German outfit highly recommended to Tull fans. Check these guys out. And prepare to swoon.

Through some glass darkly – a smashing read from the band’s own Rev.

 
 

I’ve just read A Dark Nativity, a new novel by the band’s Field Chaplain for our Christmas cathedral shows, the (occasionally) Reverend George Pitcher. I thoroughly recommend it – it’s narrated by his alter ego, Rev Natalie Cross, who’s quite a gal.

She certainly gets around for a vicar. Of course, I tried to skip the naughty bits… but then there wasn’t much left! So well done to Rev George/Nat for telling it like it really is in the world, holy warts and all. The pic above shows us on a recent visit to Birmingham Cathedral where we came upon this striking Sir Edward Burne-Jones window in a half-lit corner of the cathedral depicting a crib scene. “That’s quite a dark Nativity,” quipped Rev G (never one to miss a promo opportunity).

So we persuaded a passing parson to snap us in front of it. And who knows? If we plan a Christmas concert there one day and you’re kind enough to come along, the cathedral could make enough to clean up those windows. Alas, the same can’t be said for cleaning up Rev G’s novel, but still… if you’d like a proper cassock-ripper of a read buy it here, like I did.

IA, March 2018

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The Bad Italian Clerks – We Used To Know

The Bad Italian Clerks are an alternative rock band specialising in clever and intelligent re-workings of classic rock songs. I am pretty sure they really are Italian. Whether they have day jobs as clerks, I am not sure. But the world would be a better place if they were full-time professionals and could share their passion with a larger audience. Spread the word.

 
 

EDENSONG – YEARS IN THE GARDEN OF YEARS

“Edensong are a great example of the contemporary face of Progressive Rock. Detailed and energetic performances with heavy guitars which give way to subtle blends of dynamic variation” – Ian Anderson, February 2017