Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This recording heralds a new beginning for choral music at one of the University of Oxford's oldest colleges. Merton was founded way back in 1264 and the chapel has been used for almost 750 years but until 2006 there was no resident choir. Under the direction of first Benjamin Nicholas and now Peter Phillips the Choir of Merton College has quickly established itself along with the best of the Oxbridge choirs. This debut recording takes as its theme beginnings and endings, a powerful and recurring subject within the Judeo-Christian tradition. We open with a new commission from Gabriel Jackson (born 1962), a setting of the opening verses of John's Gospel: "In the Beginning was the Word". The text is that of the King James Version which is appropriate as this Gospel was translated at Merton College by a team of scholars which included the Warden of Merton, Sir Henry Savile. This passage has not been set very often and Jackson rises to the challenge with a subtle, numinous piece that is well worth hearing. Next we have three responses to the tragic story of King David and his wayward son Absalom, recorded in II Samuel 18. In Latin we have "Lugebat David Absalom" by Nicolas Gombert (c. 1495 - c. 1560) and then two in English, both entitled "When David Heard". One is by Thomas Welkes (1576-1623) and the other by Eric Whitacre (born 1970) and this juxtaposition of ancient and modern makes for a most satisfying and moving sequence. This is followed by another triptych, this time of the beloved "Nunc Dimittis" as set by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594), Gustav Holst (1874-1934), and Pawel Lukaszewski (born 1968). And to conclude we return to the beginning with Aaron Copeland's magnificent "In the Beginning" from Genesis 1 with the choir being joined by a guest soloist, the outstanding mezzo-soprano Beth Mackay. There is much to appreciate on this disc, both in content and performance, and we look forward to hearing much more from Merton in the future.

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