Advantages: Some outstanding works, a balanced album
Disadvantages: None

...The first CD in this fine collection of Stanford's choral works, this compilation delivers well. This collection focuses on the first period of his choral work, 'Cambridge Years'. Dominating the tracklisting are settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. Particularly outstanding are those in B flat and F. You cannot fail to be moved by either the depth of bass in the Nunc Dimittis of the former, or by the triumphal crescendoes in the Magnificat of the latter that demonstrate this composer's temendous ability to bring words to life. The other settings, in E flat and A, are no less majestic. However, it is perhaps hard to appreciate these as one should when they are found on the same disc as those aforementioned. The rest of the CD provides a good contrast to the Evening settings. The anthems and motets provide for a more rounded... Read review

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Advantages: Breadth of choral works, expert musicianship
Disadvantages: None

...Charting Stanford's greatest works of the 'Edwardian Years', the second CD in this collection is as well constructed and balanced as the others. The Evening Service in G is perhaps the most familiar setting by Stanford, and for good reason. The soaring treble of the Magnificat is sublime and expertly sung. Following this the Nunc Dimittis features a bass solo that, again flawlessly sung, produces an unrivalled atmosphere of reverence. Unlike the other two CDs in the collection, more space is given to choral works other than settings of the Evening Service. The Morning Service in C allows exploration of Stanford's construction of music to set words, whilst the collection of Hymns and Bible Songs showcase his own creativity of music and lyrics. Among the hymns are some that will be instantly recognisable - 'Let Us With A Gladsome Mind... Read review

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Advantages: Simply stunning music
Disadvantages: None that I hear

..., a favourite group of mine since the first time I heard them decades ago, are a group dedicated to the performance and preservation of the best of this type of music. A choral group of exceptional ability, I have been privileged to see them many times in public, and at almost every performance, their singing seems almost like a spiritual epiphany for me, one that defies explanation in words. Directed by Peter Phillips, the group consists of a small number of male and female singers who have trained themselves well to their task. Their recordings are of a consistent quality that deserve more than five stars; this particular disc of pieces by Taverner deserves a place on the shelf of anyone who loves choral music, liturgical music or Gregorian chant, classical music generally, or religious music. It is truly remarkable. The pieces here were... Read review

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Advantages: see text
Disadvantages: see text

...Despite a chequered past in recent years, the Brighton Tavern has emerged as a mature and attractive boozer full of character. Some years back I went there with a group of fellas on a bit of a pub crawl. It was a hard schedule and as such it was halves all round. Not only did the landlord tut tut this request, he announced it to a jeering pub and chucked us all out. We were not amused. Not least because we had put 10p in the Juke box for a play. Having said that, the whole place did stink of a ronseal factory. Then, after a few years, the Brighton Tavern was transformed with little fanfare into the B Right On Tavern. the landlord was a curious and over enthusiastic antipodean who had, and I saw it, the largest collection of extreme sport videos imagineable. He played them on the several tellies about the place much to everyone... Read review

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Advantages: Convenient, interesting decor
Disadvantages: A tad cheesy

...This is one of the most convenient and easy to get to pubs in central London, and also has an interesting "spooky" / Hammer House of Horror sort of theme to it which makes it an interesting place to visit. HOW TO GET THERE: Finding the Ben Crouch Tavern is easy. Travel either to Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road tube station and head down Oxford Street (if you're coming from TCR head west, if from Oxford Street head east). You want to be walking down he north side of Oxford Street (the side wiut the big Virgin Megastore and HMV). Keep looking at the names of the roads turning off and you'll soon enough come to Wells Street. The Ben Crouch Tavern is just down there- about a hundred yards or less. Easy! THE DECOR: ...is interesting... as I stated above, it seems to be an odd, cheesy mixture of Hammer House of Horror... Read review

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Advantages: Warm, friendly atmosphere; excellent food at reasonable prices
Disadvantages: None

...For my latest Jersey review, I thought I would introduce you to my favourite little eating place on the island. Nowadays, especially since the arrival of our little boy, we no longer stay in hotels but choose the more convenient option of a self catering apartment. However, I utterly refuse to ‘self cater!’ It may work for some, but in my opinion, cooking tea and washing dishes can be saved for other 51 weeks of the year. During a holiday, whilst many people prefer to partake of their evening meal in the luxury surroundings of a Michelin star restaurant, I prefer to opt for the more comfortable, easy going setting, namely - a pub! We originally came across Les Fontaines Tavern by accident approximately four years ago. During a leisurely drive around the island late one afternoon, and having got lost a couple of times, we were... Read review

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Advantages: Delightful, charming, historic and good beer
Disadvantages: small and hard to find

...Many years ago (late 70s,early 80s) I lived and worked in Oxford and frequented a charming little pub called the Turf Tavern. In fact for several months I actually lived in rooms that the pub used to let (I don't know if they still let rooms). I had fond memories of this ancient and charming pub and so recently upon visiting Oxford with the family I took the opportunity to revisit to see if it was as I remembered. To my delight it has not changed very much. They seem to have reworked the interior at the rear a bit so there seems to be a little more room but there is still not a lot of room inside. The Turf Tavern is very well hidden but not a secret to anybody who knows Oxford. You can impress your companions with your knowledge of Oxford if you can find the Turf Tavern. If you are in the area of Radcliffe square or Broad Street... Read review

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Advantages: Delicious food, relaxed atmosphere
Disadvantages: Often difficult to get a booking, not suitable for small groups

...The Rising Sun Thai Tavern is a pub with a difference. Located in Christchurch, Dorset (in between Bournemouth and the New Forest), on entering you would think you were in a normal pub. Popular with locals, there is a traditional style bar with the usual range of drinks available at fairly reasonable prices. Hidden out the back, however, is a delightful Thai restaurant – one of my favourite local haunts for a delicious evening meal. The only thing which gives this away from the outside of the pub is the lovely rising sun logo – which on closer inspection is rising from a typical oriental dish, alongside a pair of chopsticks! For those who have never tried Thai food, the best way I can describe it is quite similar to Chinese, but dryer and more spicy. This is ideal for me, as I am not a big fan of Chinese food –... Read review

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Advantages: A fine mixture of gothic, medieval and modern music and words. You will know some of the themes - it will repay study. This is a superb rendition.
Disadvantages: None

...sympathiser. This is a stigma which still attaches to him. Given the date and place of his writings this is not surprising. However Orff, (unlike Herbert von Karajan or Elisabeth Schwarzkopf) never belonged to the Nazi Party. He was one of only twelve composers to receive a full military exemption from Goebbels's propaganda ministry. It is possible that his cantatas can be considered the only remaining music of the Third Reich. His cantata “Carmina Burana” took many years of experimentation before it received its premiere in Frankfurt in 1937. He took the poems – often in their original language - and converted them into a choral work, a piece of theatrical spectacular. He used a remarkable admixture of classical, romantic, church and plainsong and rumbustuous peasant musical themes. His own description “Cantiones profanae cantoribus et choris... Read review

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Advantages: Absolutely fantastic, there's no other word to describe it
Disadvantages: Silly rubber DVD nob and price can be hefty

...and the film began. Over a black background a soft choral melody arose from the depths, soon to be followed by a beautiful, melancholy string theme over the main "Lord of the Rings" title and the immortal prologue of Galadriel. For the following three hours I was captivated by the opulence of the adaptation, scenery, story and finally emerged from the theater a well satisfied geek, very happy to have seen it and anticipatory for the sequels to come. Now there is probably not much that needs to be said of the film, so much of a phenomenon Peter Jackson's trilogy was. The sheer detail involved to bring J.R.R. Tolkien's world alive was something that I don't think that many movie adaptations of numerous other books had ever attempted before. And the fact that the movie was separated into three parts just increased that amount of detail and to layout... Read review

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