Reviewed by Jonathan Cairns

Yorkshire-born Bernadette Farrell has been a leading composer of liturgical music since the 1970s and was a member of the well-known St Thomas More Group in London. She is associated with the renewal of Catholic worship in the UK and this album is a collection of her music that demonstrates why. It is essentially choral based music with a small chamber orchestra accompaniment. It has been carefully and lovingly composed, set to deeply Biblical words which are as much the feature as the music itself. The choir is of a very high standard, well balanced against the soloists and orchestra. Soloists appear as cantors on many of the tracks and are members of the choir itself. "O God You Search Me" is about God's total faithfulness and knowledge, set to a beautiful Rutter-esque melody. The album closes with "Your Words Are Spirit And Life" features Samela Beasom's unpretentious solo voice and excellent solo violin from Maria De Leon. One or two tracks don't seem to fit with the rest of the music, such as the almost gospel "We Believe", which sounds out of place and twee. But generally, this 1994 album is a fine showcase of an exceptional songwriter.

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