Reviewed by John Irvine

Fans of Part's music will know what to expect: a blend of medieval plainchant, early vocal polyphony and baroque instrumentation. Music so austerely beautiful, so God-praising, so heart-moving and spirit-refreshing it could only have been written recently, so powerfully does it speak to the modern soul. Part's use of tradition takes us back not just to the middle ages, but to the dawn of time itself, and forwards to the end of time and to eternity itself. Timelessness is invoked - and yet there is drama, almost urgency in the cry of praise to God. Part says, "I wished only to convey a mood, a mood that could be infinite in time, by delicately removing one piece - one particle of time - out of the flow of infinity. . . I had to draw this music gently out of silence and emptiness." The music is such that a review is inappropriate - a poem would be better. Part creates sacred music for a secular age - the gospel truths are brought to your living room via a CD player, as you are immersed in pure, austere, beautiful, holy music, the aural equivalent of the waters of baptism. Dim the lights and you could be in a huge cathedral, or perhaps in heaven surrounded by angel song. Such music purifies the soul, refreshes the spirit, renews and stills the mind and cleanses the heart. Music of joy, hope and praise. Let the wind blow where it will (John 3:8).

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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