Reviewed by Dave Massey

This is not strictly a Requiem Mass, but is made up of a personal selection of texts from the requiem and the 1662 Book Of Common Prayer and as such it reflects Rutter's strong personal faith. As a modern work, the requiem has a large popular appeal with four concessions to modern atonality - instead, it is replete with expansive chords that get the goose bumps going, starting with the pulsating first movement. Always, Rutter's dynamics are full of expression and he shows a degree of sympathy with the texts he is setting that many composers (whom are intent on using the mass as a musical form) miss. The Cambridge Singers respond to the work with a marvellous performance that would be difficult to better, but the soloists, Caroline Ashton and Donna Dean were a little hard for my liking - perhaps better suited to early music. "Out Of The Deep", the second track on this disc gives away Rutter's obvious penchant for jazz and blues and is ideal for the unsettled, restless feel of the piece, a setting of Psalm 130. If your only exposure to modern classical music was a case of 'What on earth was that racket?' then I strongly advise you to sample this disc from a modern composer who has remembered that music is a means of communication and not alienation.

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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