BBC Choral Evensong: Christ Church Cathedral Oxford 1976 (Simon Preston)

Live BBC radio broadcast from the chapel of Christ Church Oxford, 28 January 1976, with the choir of Christ Church, directed by Simon Preston. Assistant organist: Nicholas Cleobury. Organ scholar: Colin Walsh. Responses: Ayleward Psalms: 136, 137, 138 (Lloyd, Lloyd, Ley) Lessons: Isaiah 49, vv 22-26; 1 Corinthians 12, vv 1-11 Canticles: Great Service in D (C Hubert H Parry) Anthem: For lo, I raise up (Charles Villiers Stanford) A point of interest in this recording is that, although the last three verses of Psalm 137 are usually omitted, here the psalm is sung in full: 1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept : when we remembered thee, O Sion. 2 As for our harps, we hanged them up : upon the trees that are therein. 3 For they that led us away captive, required of us then a song, and melody in our heaviness : Sing us one of the songs of Sion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song : in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem : let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth : yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem in my mirth. 7 Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem : how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground. 8 O daughter of Babylon, wasted with misery : yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 9 Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children : and throweth them against the stones.