Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This was a difficult release to classify and although I have labelled it as choral it could just as easily be put under classical. There are indeed two choirs involved, the Kaunas State Choir and the Aidija Chamber Choir, but the feel of the piece is symphonic which the words being used impressionistically. Of course the fact that I do not understand a word of what is being sung must be a part of this impression but by treating this as a neo-romantic tone poem I can say that it was an interesting and, in places, moving experience. Onute Narbutaite (born 1956) is a Lithuanian composer but if we want to compare her to anyone we should look south to Poland and Krystof Penderecki rather than north to Estonia's Arvo Part and the fact that I cannot name any other Lithuanian composer's is nobody's fault but mine. Her 'Tres Dei Matris Symphoniae' ('Three Symphonies Of The Mother of God') is not a conventional oratorio but a symphony, or three symphonies with choir which embrace the Revelation, the Birth of Jesus and the Crucifixion in settings of the "Ave Maria", "Gloria", "Stabat Mater" and Hildegard von Bingen's "O Clarissima Mater". This is by no means an easy listen although parts are intensely powerful and indeed moving. Those who enjoy the challenge of new music may get something out of this, those looking for a traditional contemplation of the mysteries of Mary's role in the Incarnation might want to think twice.

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