Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Sarah MacDonald and the Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge have built up a fine discography with many single-contemporary-composer collections, giving much needed exposure to some up-and-coming composers. Now it is Ms MacDonald's turn with this, the first recording devoted to her own compositions, with the composer conducting one of her choirs, from Selwyn College, Cambridge, at the home of another of her choirs, Ely Cathedral, where she is Director of the Girl Choristers. Sarah MacDonald was born in Canada and now lives in East Anglia where she has held the positions of Fellow and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge since 1999 when she was the first woman to hold such a post in any Oxbridge chapel, and was later appointed University Organist at Cambridge, a ceremonial role that dates back to 1650 and again is the first woman in post. Her booklet notes for this release are informative and thought-provoking, opening a window into the working life of a contemporary composer. The collection features a selection of recent shorter works, both a cappella choir and for accompanied choir courtesy of Adam Field on the organ of Ely Cathedral. There are 21 pieces over the 78 minutes of the album, from the title track through to the closing "Selwyn College Grace". MacDonald writes from within the Anglo-Catholic tradition so there are Latin texts as well as English - with the Latin translated for us in the CD booklet. Particular favourites for this listener are "The manger is empty", a sequence for Christmas using texts by the Welsh poet R.S. Thomas and "Missa Brevis Sancta Cecilia". While there is nothing in this collection that would be useable in my own church context, I expect choir masters from within the Anglo-Catholic tradition will find much of interest and as a listener this was a pleasant way of spending an evening being taken out of my comfort zone to hear some interesting music being sung very well indeed.

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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