"This significant and highly enjoyable release offers a gnerous cross-section of both well-known and hitherto neglected repertory ... The microphones pick up the vibrant tone of The Choir of the Holy Sepulchre at some distance. This enhances the more dramatic moments, for example the explosive final section of Blessed be the God and Father. Blessed with some outstanding solo voices, Toby Ward generally favours an energetic approach and a bright sound. The extended anthem Let us lift up our heartis outstandingly good, and who could fail to be moved by so many melting suspensions? ... How fortunate Wesley is to have such enthusiastic advocacy?"

"This most welcome recording of a section of Samuel Sebastian Wesley's sacred choral music gets off to a splendid start with a vibrant performance of probably his most famous anthem, Blessed be the God and Father. Conductor Toby Ward and the clear-toned and impeccably tuned singers of the Choir of the Holy Sepulchre, a young professional choir, make the most of the anthem's drama without ever going beyond the bounds of good taste. Their approuch sets the tone for the rest of disc, which includes well-judged accounts of multi-sectional anthems such as Let us lift up our Heart and TheWilderness. The album also indudesthe premiere recording of the Credo from Wesley'sCommunion Service In E and AllPeople that on Earth do Dwell.TheUSP of the disc is its use of an organ similar in design to Wesley's. In organist RichardGowers' hands and feet, theplaying is as fine as one might expect: his skill at accompanying the singers is a constant delight.With liner notes from Wesley biographer Peter Horton, who also prepared the music editions,this disc is to be warmlyreccommended ... "

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"It’s rare to get albums these days featuring English choral music from the Victorian era. I miss cathedral choirs singing the dramatic choral anthems from composers such as SS Wesley at Evensong. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a balance in music programming, which says a lot about the times we live in ... As Peter Horton points out in his excellent notes, the anthem O God, whose nature and property included both traditional and novel harmonies, proved to be a sign of things to come in Wesley's subsequent compositions. Throughout, Toby Ward’s choir responds well to his direction, with some emphasis on words and lovely, controlled singing. The organ accompaniment is well-judged, providing the perfect cushion for the voices to sit on. Richard Gowers uses the instrument's colour well in his registrations, such as in ‘Who for us men’ from the Credo (Communion Service in E). This recording is the first to have been made using an organ similar in design to the instrument used by Wesley’s in Hereford Cathedral in the 1830s. Psalm 142 features a delightful accompaniment, with the words sung descriptively in the tradition of Anglican chant ... "