We have here an album that celebrates the Trinity. All the selections have been, and frequently are, heard on Trinity Sunday or throughout celebrations for Holy Trinity. The bulk of repertoire sung on this disc by The Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne derives from sixteenth century polyphonists and English Elizabethans, though we do also find a healthy admixture of twentieth century works, ranging from Charles Wood’s famous Hail, Gladdening Light to the works of our contemporaries.

Not only then is this a celebration of the Trinity but also it’s a test of the stylistic and technical prowess of the College Choir. Since many of the selections are very short it doesn’t give one a truly penetrating insight into the choir’s affinities but certain generalizations can certainly be made. Of the Moderns their Leighton is good, forward moving and quite vibrant with care paid to rhythmic attack. I also enjoyed Philip Wilby’s Vox Dei – the English composer finds a direct and no-nonsense sensitivity in his writing. The Palestrina only lasts three or so minutes but proves ravishing. Their Sheppard is interestingly sonorous and old fashioned in style and has a romantic cut to it.

There are signs of strain in the Byrd – the voices don’t blend ideally and there are extraneous strands that do stick out somewhat and especially at the work’s climax (like so many this is part of a multi-movement structure of course) some raw voices can be heard forcing the tone uncomfortably. Still much else is fine – the Guerrero Duo seraphim especially and the Butterley with its haze of clusters, and the Wood of course, a wonderful restorative with its momentum and fire.

ABC has used the Carmelite Monastery in Kew as a recording location before and as before it was a wise choice. Texts are provided and succinct notes. Some rough edges along the way, then, and a degree of stylistic disunity here and there – but otherwise a welcome recital from this well established choir who convey a sense of continuum in the celebration with honesty and commitment.

Jonathan Woolf

 

Advertising Rates
Visitor stats
MusicWeb International
has over 21,000 Classical CD reviews on offer

Gerard Hoffnung Concerts &
The Bricklayer Story

New Releases

New Releases

MusicWeb Recommended Recordings 2008

DISCS OF THE YEAR 2007