Gabriel Jackson, Choir Of St Mary's Cathedral, Matthew Owens - Sacred Choral Works
STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 14007- LABEL: Delphian DCD34027 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £15.49
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
Gabriel Jackson was born in Bermuda in 1962 and later spent three years as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral where he was influenced by the then organist, Allan Wicks, a champion of contemporary music. In this release Jackson shows his awareness of the history of Anglican choral music as well as being willing and able to demonstrate his own personality. Much of the music here was written to be sung in worship and Jackson, who knows both the choir and building, plays to their strengths. We get a Mass with communion motet and a Choral Evensong. Two carols are also included, situated between the two services. Some 14 years separate the earliest Jackson work recorded on this disc, the unaccompanied motet "O Sacrum Convivium", and the most recent, the setting of Psalm 112 for solo soprano, the superb Susan Hamilton who is well accompanied by Michael Bonaventure on organ. Bonaventure also closes the programme with a spectacular "St Asaph Toccata". If you have any interest in how choral music might sound as the 21st century progresses you will want to note Gabriel Jackson's name and if you enjoy outstanding singing then this choir is one to listen out for.
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