A King of King's

Boris Ord was music director at King's College, Cambridge from 1929 to 1957, but his contribution is often overlooked. It's about time we gave him the recognition he deserves, writes Andrew Green

- Andrew Green

The profile of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge in terms of media, recordings and international touring shot ahead in the period from 1957-74, when David Willcocks was director of music. Yet when do we hear anything much of Willcocks's predecessor, Boris Ord? No excuses for that.

Many of those who sang under him remain around to bear witness to his clearly remarkable talents. Robin Morrish, who sang for both Ord and Willcocks as a choral scholar, reckons that 'David Willcocks was first class, but he didn't have Boris's genius'.

Morrish sought a place in the King's choir precisely because of the magic transmitted over the Christmas Eve airwaves. 'At home we'd settle down for the Nine Lessons and Carols, waiting in silence for the first notes of Once in Royal David's City. King's under Boris was the tops."

Multiple cathedral organist and still an in-demand choir trainer at the age of 89, Barry Rose recalls attending Ord's services at King's. I thought, "This is heaven." Two recordings of King's under Boris represent everything one could want to achieve in choral singing-the carol The Infant King and Orlando Gibbons's Almighty and everlasting God. The music is always at the service of the words.'