STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 23558- LABEL: Regent REGCD249 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
Cornwall's Truro Cathedral, with its unique musical tradition, radiant acoustic and one of Europe's finest church organs, has inspired many composers to write for its choir. This CD features a selection of these works written over the last 20 years by composers associated with Truro and includes eight first recordings performed by the choir for which they were written, ably directed by Robert Sharpe. The title track is a setting of the Lord's Prayer in Cornish by Russell Pascoe who also contributes "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming", which was written for the 2005 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Truro. Also on a Christmas theme are Jonathan Carne's "Lannanta Carol" and Paul Comeau's "Watts' Cradle Song". The rest of the programme is made up of settings for traditional services as sung in the cathedral: "The Truro Eucharist" by David Briggs, "Missa Triuriensis" by Gabriel Jackson and two Truro Services, one by Briggs and the other by Comeau. Taken together, this is a pleasant and satisfying collection of contemporary choral music although there is nothing that stands out as exceptional. The singing is very good and Christopher Gray accompanies well on the organ but the compositions tend to blur into one.
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.
Interested in reviewing music? Find out
more here.