‘Oldest’ live recording of cathedral choir found
An almost 100-year-old recording of a choir has been unearthed and handed back to the cathedral that hosted the performance. It is believed to be one of the oldest recordings of a live choir singing in their home venue.
The sound of Rochester Cathedral choir singing in 1926 was preserved on a 12-inch shellac record, which has been rediscovered by a sound expert. It has now been transferred on to a CD and returned to the Kent cathedral. Older recordings of choirs exist but they were recorded inside a studio.
The audio of the Rochester choir was sent live by telephone lines to Columbia Studios in London where the record was made.
The eight revolutions-per-minute record contains the choristers singing Magnificat in B flat and the hymn All People that on Earth do Dwell conducted by Charles Hylton Stewart, then director of music.
The performance also features Percy Whitlock, the composer, playing the organ in the choir he served in various roles between 1911 and 1930.
The recording was found by Michael Curling from the City of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society.
Alistair Taylor, owner of a specialist record shop in Rochester, transferred the audio onto a CD.
The recording will be played at a choral evensong service at the Cathedral on Sunday.
Adrian Bawtree, director of music at Rochester Cathedral said: “We are delighted to be sharing this historic recording with you all.
“To hear the choir in such good heart back in 1926 and to hear the famous Percy Whitlock at the organ is just simply fantastic.
