Observers have been writing obituaries for the great English choral tradition for at least a century, but these days it seems as strong as ever. Here, the Choir of Westminster Abbey, with director James O'Donnell and organist Peter Holder (exceptionally well-engineered by Hyperion), offer works by three contemporary composers, and the result is a fine demonstration of how multifarious the tradition has become, even within relatively fixed forms linked to Anglican church liturgy. Composers Jonathan Dove, Judith Weir, and ...
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Observers have been writing obituaries for the great English choral tradition for at least a century, but these days it seems as strong as ever. Here, the Choir of Westminster Abbey, with director James O'Donnell and organist Peter Holder (exceptionally well-engineered by Hyperion), offer works by three contemporary composers, and the result is a fine demonstration of how multifarious the tradition has become, even within relatively fixed forms linked to Anglican church liturgy. Composers Jonathan Dove, Judith Weir, and Matthew Martin inhabit basically the same stylistic universe, featuring extended tonality, detailed response to text, free rhythms, and idiomatic choral writing, but they are absolute individuals. Dove is high-energy: listen to They Will Rise, a work written for the centenary of the Royal Air Force, which combines choir and organ masterfully in a ringing peroration. The boy trebles of the Westminster Abbey Choir may meet their matches among other choirs in quiet, pure high notes, but in...
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