Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Another year, another new line-up for the ever-reliable King's Singers. However, while the names change as the years go by the vocal blend remains the same: two countertenors, a tenor, two baritones and a bass, and the pitch-perfect harmonies are the same as they ever were. 'Head Space' is a new KS's project aiming to connect choral music with calmness and reflection. 'Candlelight' is inspired by Compline, the final service of the monastic day to prepare for the night ahead and the 14 tracks featured begin and end with Plainchant ("In manus tuas, Domine" or "Into your hands, O Lord" to open and "Salva nos Domine" or "Save us, O Lord" to close). Running through the programme are four wordless "Songs" by Orlando Gibbons (Numbers 1, 9, 13 and 20) with two of them, 1 and 20, featuring a 17th century cornet played by Jeremy West, a founder member of His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts. Followers of the King's Singers will know that the vast majority of their repertoire is a cappella so to hear a cornet while unexpected adds to the blend and turns the sextet into an octet. There are three contemporary pieces in the first part of the programme: "Heyr þu oss himnum à" ("Hear us in heaven, O God") by the Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, "Ave virgo sanctissima" ("Hail, most holy Virgin") by England's Judith Bingham, and "Zwei Beter" ("Two prayers") by the Estonian Arvo Part. Then it is back to the Middle Ages with Hildegard von Bingen's "O Euchari" for St Eucharius, the first bishop of Trier. And then we hear something completely different: John Cage's infamous "4'33" with its 273 seconds of silence. I admit that when I looked at the track list I was sceptical: we are here to hear the King's Singers not to listen to silence but I was wrong. This moment of silent reflection is absolutely right as part of a contemplative programme and I felt like the prophet Elijah when he was at Mount Horeb in 1st Kings 19 and the Lord spoke to him not in the earthquake, wind or fire but instead in the sound of silence. Then the music resumes with Robert Parson's "Ave Maria", the final Gibbon's Song, Edvard Grieg's "Ave Maris Stella" ("Hail, star of the sea"), and the concluding Plainchant, taking us back to the beginning. This 46-minutes of music plus the 4-33 of silence is the King's Singers at their most spiritual. Yes, they can and do excel with their many showstoppers but there should always be time to reflect and meditate. No doubt listeners who practice mindfulness will get something from this and those of us who try to spend time with God on a regular basis will also appreciate this collection. And if you enjoy superlative a cappella singing the King's Singers are still up with the very best.

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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