Cappella Nova - Who are these Angels? - All Manner of Thing
29 December 2011
All Manner of ThingI count myself an admirer of James MacMillan's music, particularly his music for choir, and I have collected a fair number of recordings. This is the best that I have yet heard. The music on this disc was mostly written between 2007 and 2010, and consists principally of a new set of ‘Strathclyde Motets' (supplementing an earlier set recorded by the same ensemble) as well as MacMillan's Mass of Blessed John Henry Newman, written for the papal visit to England last year. The motets are demanding, but breathtakingly beautiful, pieces; they will be too difficult for most choirs, and we are fortunate to have them sung as passionately and expertly as they are on this recording. The Mass, on the other hand, was written for liturgical use and would be within the grasp of many church choirs. This is, as far as I know, its first recording, and it would be good if it were to become popular. It is a fine setting (of the new translation). A little surprisingly, the Kyrie quotes the ‘Tristan chord' from Wagner; MacMillan has given an interesting explanation for this in the CD's accompanying notes.
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Cappella Nova
Who are these Angels?
