Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Although Alan Bullard (born 1947) has enjoyed a prolific career as a composer I regret that until this release came my way he had totally passed me by. However when I dug a little deeper into his CV I came across a couple of books of his with which I am familiar. On playing this new CD my first response was that it is sung very well indeed and I cheerfully applaud The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge and its director Sarah MacDonald. The music is pleasant on the ear and sounds as though it would be within the capabilities of many choirs. If you want an easy comparison I would say John Rutter. Frankly, although easy on the ear I struggled to remember much of what I had heard by the time I had reached the end of the disc although this is the case for most composers. Think of your favourite hymn-writer, count how many pieces he or she wrote and then check to see how many are sung today or even make it in to your preferred hymnbook. Take the opening composition on this disc: "The Selwyn Service", a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis composed in 2012. It is well written and well sung and I predict that it will continue to be sung and appreciated at Selwyn College Chapel but for the rest of us there are many other settings of these beloved texts that I would pick ahead of this one. The same goes for the "Dover Te Deum" from 2009. It was commissioned for the Choir of St Mary-the-Virgin, Dover, in memory of John and Jean Blair and I am confident that those involved are most satisfied with what Bullard has given them. But, again, if I was looking for a Te Deum for my own choir I would not in all honesty pick this one. There is, though, one piece about which I am much more enthusiastic: the title piece, "Wondrous Cross". This is "A meditation based on the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ" written for the composer's home congregation in Colchester. Each passage contains the text of the Gospel writer, set as a single melodic line and often unaccompanied, with the actual words of Jesus in four-part choral harmony. These passages lead into traditional Passiontide hymns such as "There Is A Green Hill Far Away" and "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" which can be sung congregationally. The piece lasts 35 minutes and I am happy to recommend it for use by choirs as a performance piece or by choir and congregation in worship and the CD as an accompaniment for private mediation. And, you never know, you may enjoy some of the other pieces on the rest of the CD as well.

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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