An excerpt from a BBC TV programme called “Advent Hope”, recorded in Lichfield Cathedral and broadcast on 29 November 1998. With the choristers of Lichfield Cathedral, directed by Andrew Lumsden, and Robert Sharpe (organ). Our apologies the choir and its director for the insensitive editing, which was carried out before the tape was donated to the Archive, and for the poor sound quality. If anyone has a “clean” copy of this broadcast, we would be interested to hear about it.
Peter Hurford, born in Minehead in 1930, was organist at St Albans Cathedral from 1958 to 1978 and was largely responsible for the establishment of the St Albans International Organ Festival. His “Litany to the Holy Spirit”, written in 1958, also comes in an SATB version. The words are by Robert Herrick (1591-1674).
In the hour of my distress,
When temptations me oppress,
And when I my sins confess,
Sweet Spirit, comfort me!
When I lie within my bed,
Sick in heart and sick in head,
And with doubts discomforted,
Sweet Spirit, comfort me!
When the house doth sigh and weep,
And the world is drown'd in sleep,
Yet mine eyes the watch do keep,
Sweet Spirit, comfort me!