God is our hope and strength: Church Music Society publications

An impressive piece, and well worth a concert performance.
Previous published by the Church Music Society in two anthologies (welcomed by John Henderson in CMQ March 2008), these five offprints contain some most attractive music and all could be useful in church services today. The pieces requiring larger forces, such as Blow's eight-part God is our hope and strength are among the most impressive musically.

John Blow was an English composer of the Baroque era from Nottinghamshire. Blow was a chorister at the Chapel Royal before taking up two separate tenures as Organist at Westminster Abbey from 1668. Blow gave up this role for his famous pupil Purcell in 1679 and reclaimed the post after his death in 1697. During this break, Blow served as Organist and Choirmaster at the newly consecrated St Pauls Cathedral in 1687, was a private musician of James II, and was briefly the Organist of St Margarets Westminster. In 1700, Blow was officially made Composer to the Chapel Royal. Blows composition output is diverse, including both secular and sacred works for choirs, and instrumental music for chamber ensembles and keyboard.