The Tablet Launches Favourite Hymns CD

The Tablet Launches Favourite Hymns CD

LONDON, December 21/PRNewswire/ --

- With Photos

The Tablet has recorded a CD of the Top 20 hymns voted for by its
readers.

The top hymn, chosen by readers of the international Catholic weekly, is
'Here I am, Lord' (popularly known by its first line 'I, the Lord of Sea and
Sky') by American composer, Daniel Schutte. The Irish 'Be Thou My Vision',
which is based on an 8th Century poem, and 'How Great Thou Art' are the next
two in the Top 20.

Recorded in July 2005 at St Alban the Martyr Church in Holborn, the CD
features the award-winning Exmoor Singers of London, as well as the Polish
soloist Renata Jonscher, who sings two additional hymns, known to be
favourites of the late John Paul II.

Readers were initially invited to send in their nominations. This was
followed by a series of articles in The Tablet, in which writers chose their
favourite. They included broadcaster Edward Stourton, who chose 'Let all
Mortal Flesh Keep Silence'; Conservative MP Ann Widdecome, whose favourite is
'How Great Thou Art'; hymn composer Bernadette Farrell, whose favourite is
'Be Thou My Vision'; Church of England General Synod member, Christina Rees,
whose favourite is 'Now the Green Blade Riseth'; editor of the Catholic hymn
book Laudate, Stephen Dean, whose favourite is 'Praise to the Holiest'; and
Premier Radio presenter, Cindy Kent, whose favourite is 'Immortal,
Invisible'.

The Exmoor Singers of London are one of the UK's top amateur mixed-voice
choirs. They regularly perform at festivals and concerts throughout the UK
and abroad, and have previously won the North Wales Choral Festival (2003),
Sligo International Choral Festival (2001) and Sainsbury's Mixed Voice Choir
of the Year (1998). James Jarvis, musical director of the choir, says:

"Our approach to recording the hymns has been to present the full, uncut
texts of all the hymns in an essentially congregational style. In choosing
their best-loved hymns, people have demonstrably chosen fine settings of
powerful words; but, above all, it is obvious that they have voted for the
hymns they love to sing."

Renata Jonscher is a professional mezzo-soprano who was born and trained
in Cieszyn, Poland. She now works internationally on a wide range of music
from classical and folk to religious songs. In 1998 she received the Silver
Medal of the Republic of Poland for contribution to musical culture. In 2000
she presented her latest CD personally to Pope John Paul II. On 'My Kind of
Hymn', she sings two of the late Pope's favourite hymns, in Polish. Renata
says of the hymn 'Black Madonna':

"Seeing the painting known as the Black Madonna in the Polish shrine of
Czestochow was a turning pointed in the childhood of Karol Wojtyla. His
mother had just died, and his father took him to the shrine; the painting and
the setting overwhelmed him, and to that moment he traced his lifelong
devotion to the Virgin Mary."

The CD contains a booklet with the words of all the hymns, plus comments
from some of the writers who chose them.

To see the full track listing of 23 hymns, and hear clips from the CD
please go to www.thetablet.co.uk/mykindofhymn. Copies are available for sale
at GBP9.95 direct from The Tablet website and from selected bookshops. For
every copy sold, we will donate GBP1 to Cafod, in support of Make Poverty
History.

The Top 10 - in order of popularity

1. Here I am Lord (I, the Lord of Sea and Sky)
By Daniel L. Schutte

2. Be Thou My Vision
By Irish (c. eighth century) translated by Mary Byrne

3. How Great Thou Art
By Carl Boberg, arranged by Stuart K. Hine

4. Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord
By David J. Evans

5. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Liturgy of St James, translated by G. Moultrie

6. Amazing Grace
By John Newton

7. Soul of My Saviour
Ascribed to Pope John XXII

8. My Song is Love Unknown
By Samuel Crossman

9. Christ Be Our Light
By Bernadette Farrell

10. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
By John Greenleaf Whittier

High resolution photographs accompanying this release are available to
the media free of charge via PA Photowire or visit www.mediapoint.press.net
or www.prnewswire.co.uk

Source: The Tablet Publishing Company Ltd

For interviews, photos and copies of the CD please contact Rebecca Cullen-Moreno, Marketing Manager at The Tablet on Tel: +44-(0)20-8222-7358 or Email: marketing@thetablet.co.uk.

-------
Profile: intent