RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

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Richard ALLAIN (b. 1965) When I'm Gone Salve Regina Double choir At Night I Seek the One My Spirit Loves Soprano, soprano saxophone and organ Bow Down Thine Ear, O Lord (Psalm 86) Choir and semi-chorus Three Spirituals Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? SATB choir It’s Me, O Lord Double choir and semi-chorus Don't You Weep When I'm Gone SATB choir and semi-chorus Missa Brevis SA choir and organ Kyrie; Gloria; Sanctus; Benedictus; Agnus Dei Two Christmas Carols A Babe is Born SSATB choir Coventry Carol Double choir and semi-chorus Improperia Double choir and semi-chorus Memento Homo Soprano saxophone and organ John Harle, Soprano saxophone National Youth Choir of Great Britain Laudibus/Mike Brewer Rec. Edinburgh, 2003 DELPHIAN CDC34026 [79.17]

Salve Regina with its rearing looming white tone and Howells-like ecstatic steadiness is instantly impressive. This is combined with some alarmingly apposite Ligetian pitter-patter counterpointed with surging baritonal optimism. At Night I seek the one my spirit loves juxtaposes the two lissom purities - that of Susan Hamilton's voice and of John Harle's grown-up, violently poignant and capricious saxophone. This in turn meets the 'Clockwork Orange' violence of the organ. After three ‘instruments’ we come to choir and semi-chorus in Bow Down Thine Ear. Allain's imagination is luxuriantly stocked. There is no question of a limited range of expression. Single voices mingle with the burnished purple of the choirs and confiding whispers alternate with rough interjections. The casing and much of the substance is traditional although there are Pendereckian ululations among the harkings back to Warlock's Corpus Christi and Vaughan Williams' Shakespeare Songs. The Three Spirituals are for a capella but with the usual mingling of solos and choir. The first has a taut, sparkling and vivacious energy. Word-shaping is painstakingly clear without affectation. The title of the disc is taken from the last spiritual Don't You weep when I'm Gone. The wave-curve of the singing inevitably links with Tippett. The five section Missa Brevis is for women's voices and organ. The first two sections, Kyrie and Gloria struck me as quite conventional beside the Sanctus which, in its organ eddies and sand devils, recalls Messiaen. Before this CD Allain's name had not registered with me at all. It turns out that Allain has specialised in writing music for children. Not a reason for neglect. If you are an adherent of English choral music do try this; something out of the ordinary and rewarding. Rob Barnett Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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