Kindle Our Hearts: Howells: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittus (Collegium
Regale), Nicholson: Lift High the Cross, Bainton: And I saw a New Heaven,
Hoiby: Let This Mind Be in You, Howells: Master Tallis' Testament (from
Six pieces for organ), Ireland: Greater Love Hath No Man, Clarke: Phos
Hilaron, Stanford: Laudate Dominum, Howells: Te Deum and Jubilate
(Collegium Regale), Clarke: Improvization on Sortie, Ley: A prayer of
King Henry VI, Martinson: Missa Puer natus est, Stanford: When In Our
Music God is Glorified.

The Choir of the Church of the Incarnation, Dallas, Texas.  Kevin Clarke,
organist and choirmaster.  Jason Abel, organ, Richard Johnson, tenor,
Elizabeth Clarke, soprano, Jason Awbrey, baritone.  ProOrgano CD 7120,
1999, 67 minutes.

An organist of flawless technique and peerless taste, Kevin Clarke also
stands at the helm of one of the finest liturgical choirs in the Southwest.
Modeled after the great cathedral choirs of England, Mr. Clarke is able to
create a boy choir sound from his female sopranos without depriving the
music of its warmth and color.  Aided by the splendidly reverberant
acoustic of Dallas' Church of the Incarnation, a Gothic style structure
built in 1950, the choir achieves both a luster and clarity that would be
the envy of many a choirmaster.  The 1961 Aeolian Skinner Organ, enlarged
and rebuilt in 1992 by the Noack Company further aids the excellent singing
on this disc.

This collection of Hymns, Anthems and Service Music has much to offer
lovers of great church music.  Amongst the finer efforts are Lee Hoiby's
Let This Mind Be In You and John Ireland's Greater Love Hath No Man.
Clarke's own Phos Hilaron and Henry Ley's A Prayer of King Henry VI
are absolute gems.  Perhaps the highlight of the whole concert is the
fresh and lovely Missa Puer natus est by Dallas composer Joel Martinson.
Commissioned by the choir in celebration of the centennial of the
congregation, this brief but impacting work is full of original harmonies
that delight and surprise the listener and is given a fine performance by
the choir.

If there be anything to criticize in this performance, it is the tendency
of the singers, especially soloists, to affect a British accent.  This
tactic sounds unnatural from American singers and makes an otherwise fine
performance take on an unnecessarily precious and somewhat pretentious air.
There is also a slight tendency for the sopranos to lose their warmth when
singing forte in the higher registers.

Organists and choristers alike will enjoy Mr. Clarke's solo organ
selections, especially the poignant Master Tallis' Testament by Herbert
Howells.  This disc is recommendable for its fine performances and will
serve to expose a wider audience to some new and very worthwhile
repertoire.

Kevin Sutton