Reviewed by John Irvine

This is a collection of acappella religious works by the 'Holy Minimalists' - John Tavener, Arvo Part and Henryk Gorecki. Although often lumped together into a single category, a comparison of the three composers on this recording will show that they have as many differences as similarities. John Tavener's music is primarily inspired by the Tradition (capital T) and theology of the Orthodox Church. His music is both serene and powerful, beautifully austere and overwhelmingly sensuous all at the same time. The selection of Tavener's pieces here incorporates the well known ("The Lamb", "Today The Virgin"), the comparatively new (including first recordings of "The Annunciation", "The Acclamation" and the wonderful "He Hath Entered The Heaven") and the obscure - two wedding prayers, two carols and a setting of the Lord's Prayer. The selection is rather a mixed bunch, but the performance of "He Hath Entered" is so breathtaking that we have to forgive any minor oversights on the choice of material! Gorecki, although he builds huge sound pictures with essentially simple building blocks often involving repetition of key phrases, could hardly be labelled as belonging to any one school of thought, having developed his own pathway out of the serialism of his youth to a position which has more in common with Romantics such as fellow-Pole Szymanowski than with that of the minimalists Glass, Reich and Nyman. A distinctly Polish element is present in all of his writing, both for the concert hall and for the church. Three of his choral works are recorded here, including the magnificant "Totus Tuus" written for Pope John Paul II, here given a warmer, more emotive and more devotional rending than that on the recent Decca release (reviewed in CR15). Of the three 'Holy Minimalists', Part is surely the most 'minimal'. And yet even his music is more than mere atmospherics, repetitions and musical games. There is a genuine power, urgency, passion and drama at work behind the surface of serenity. One is almost overwhelmed by the weight of devotional fervour. In a few notes, so very, very much is conveyed to the listener and to the worshipper alike. Two of his short works, "Magnificat" and "Summa", are given competent readings. All in all an excellent disc with some very good performances. Not the perfect disc for comparing the work of these three composers - perhaps there can be no such thing - but a very good attempt at it.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.