Various Composers - Reaching Farther. Clare College 1326–2026 (Choir of Clare College)

Information

1. Matthew Martin - Haec dies
2. Vivek Haria - Lord, I cry unto thee
3. Luca Zucchi - Drop, drop, slow tears
4. Ayo Bankole - Òrìşà bí òfun kò sí
5. Héloïse Werner - Magnificat
6. Héloïse Werner - Nunc dimittis
7. Graham Ross - Magnificat (Clare Service)
8. Graham Ross - Nunc dimittis (Clare Service)
9. Thomas Alban - Nunc dimittis
10. William Denis Browne - Magnificat in A
11. William Denis Browne - Nunc dimittis in A
12. Giles Swayne - The Dug-Out
13. Nico Muhly - Reaching Farther
14. John Tavener - Rocking
15. Cecilia McDowall - The Magi
16. Joshua Pacey - Now the day is over
17. Simon Hall - Lighten our darkness
18. John Rutter - A Clare Benediction

Choir of Clare College, Cambridge

Graham Ross, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Signum Classics

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Reaching Farther: Clare College 1326–2026 celebrates the 700th anniversary of Clare College, Cambridge, with a curated program of choral works commissioned for and closely associated with its choir, directed by Graham Ross. The recording showcases a broad historical arc of composers tied to Clare, ranging from William Denis Browne's 1911 student-composed canticles to world premiere recordings of newly commissioned pieces by Nico Muhly, Héloïse Werner, and current undergraduate Thomas Alban. Additionally, the album features a rare premiere recording of a work by former Clare Organ Scholar Ayo Bankole, newly recovered through extensive archival research.

Since establishing a mixed-voice ensemble in 1972, the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, has earned international acclaim as one of the world's premier university choirs. Directed by Graham Ross since 2010, following former directors such as John Rutter and Timothy Brown, the ensemble maintains a rigorous schedule of chapel services, global broadcasts, tours, and high-profile performances at venues including Amsterdam's Concertgebouw and Barcelona's Palau de la Música. The choir regularly collaborates with major orchestras worldwide and boasts a discography of over fifty recordings, with its Harmonia Mundi releases securing critical honors such as a Diapason d’Or, Le Choix de France Musique, and a Gramophone Award nomination.