Stars of the Morning

Christopher Maxim’s anthem ‘for St Michael and All Angels’, Stars of the Morning […] is a dramatic – and demanding – setting of the words by J. M. Neale from an ancient hymn, for SATB choir with occasional divisi, which received its first performance in St Paul’s Cathedral. It is punctuated by a fortissimo unison melismatic phrase which marks each of its sections, and requires rhythmic precision in negotiating tempo changes as the declamation of the words unfolds. It certainly does justice to the ‘thundering’ and ‘shouts of joy’ of which the text speaks!
David Lindley (Organists’ Review)

This is a dramatic setting of the words of the Michaelmas hymn, mostly loud and emphatic, with an arresting opening that reappears towards the end as well as in the middle, men only, for ‘Who like the Lord? thunders Michael the Chief’. There is much battling for right and shouting for joy; an exhilarating time will be had with a confident choir and organist.
James L. Montgomery (Sunday by Sunday)