Samuel Wesley - Confitebor tibi, Domine (1799)

Alison Hargan (soprano), Anne Collins (contralto), Justin Lavender (tenor), Michael George (bass), BBC Singers
Orchestra of St John 's, Smith Square, John Lubbock, conductor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at 4.30pm on Friday 28th July 1989. I recorded this off-air on to cassette on Thursday 13th January 1994.
In 1784 Wesley converted to Roman Catholicism and over almost fifty years composed a considerable amount of Latin church music. In 1799, for reasons unknown, he wrote this large-scale setting of Psalm 111 which had its first performance at the Argyll Rooms in London on 4th May 1826.
"I am sorry I cannot trace the 'whereabout' of my poor Confitebor, because it is (altogether) the least incorrect of my scrolls and might have had a chance of becoming profitable (if published) to some of my unfortunate progeny."
It was not performed again until 8th September 1868 when Wesley's son, Samuel Sebastian, conducted excerpts in Gloucester Cathedral as part of the Three Choirs Festival. The soloists were Charles Santley, Thérèse Tietjens, Edith Wynne, and Charlotte Sainton-Dolby. The London Evening Standard's reviewer wrote: "Some parts really are almost to the height of sublimity, other portions are the veriest twaddle."
The full score was first published in the Musica Britannica series in 1978, edited by John Marsh; the vocal score followed from Redcliffe Edition in 1984, edited by Francis Routh.
1. Quartet
Confitebor tibi Domine,
In toto corde meo;
In consilio justorum,
Et congregatione.
2. Chorus
Magna opera Domini,
Exquisita in omnes voluntates ejus.
3. Aria
Confessio et magnificentia opus ejus;
Et justitia ejus manet
In saeculum saeculi.
4. Quartet
Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum,
Misericors et miserator Dominus.
Escam dedit timentibus se.
5. Aria
Memor erit in saeculum
Testamenti sui.
6. Chorus
Virtutem operum suorum
Annuntiabit populo suo.
7. Recit and Aria
Ut det illis
Hereditatem gentium;
Opera manuum ejus
Veritas et judicium.
Fidelia omnia mandata ejus,
Confirmata in saeculum saeculi,
Facta in veritate et aequitate.
8. Duet
Redemptionem misit Dominus
Populo suo;
9. Chorus
Mandavit in aeternum testamentum suum.
Sanctum et terribile nomen ejus:
10. Aria
Initium sapientiae timor Domini;
11. Recit and Trio
Intellectus bonus omnibus
Facientibus eum.
Laudatio ejus manet
In saeculum saeculi.
12. Chorus
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper.
Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

[@saltburner2]

What a great find! Thanks, Chris! Considering the source and age of the cassette, the sound is remarkably good.

[@webrarian]

I've had it for years (obviously) but had never got round to uploading it.