Reviewed by Steven Whitehead Gabriel Jackson was born in Bermuda in 1962. After three years as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, he went on to study composition with Richard Blackford and with John Lambert at the Royal College of Music. Particularly acclaimed for his choral works, his liturgical pieces are in the repertoires of most of Britain's cathedral and collegiate choirs and he is a frequent collaborator with the leading professional groups of the world. On this enjoyable CD Jackson joins with the critically-acclaimed Choir of Truro Cathedral, under its inspiring director, Christopher Gray, organist Luke Bond and saxophonist Joel Garthwaite, to present a collection of recent works for choir, organ and saxophone. There is much to appreciate, although the overall effect is not unlike the proverbial box of chocolates: some pieces will be loved by all but there may be one or two that no one particularly likes. 14 pieces are receiving first recordings, including the opening work "Vox Clara Ecce Intonat", commissioned by St John's College, Cambridge in 2013, and other works written for the choirs of Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. Seven new works were specifically written for Christopher Gray and the Truro Cathedral Choir, including the atmospheric "That Wind Blowing And That Tide" for treble voices, saxophone and organ, the result of a day's workshop with Gabriel Jackson and the Cathedral choristers. The Advent Antiphon setting "O Clavis David" was commissioned by Merton College, Oxford, in 2012. Christopher Gray subsequently asked Gabriel Jackson to compose settings of the remaining six Great O antiphons of Advent for the Truro Cathedral Choir. The complete cycle of seven unaccompanied Antiphons were first performed at The Advent Service in Truro Cathedral in December 2014. Other new works include a beautiful work for saxophone and organ, dedicated to saxophonist Joel Garthwaite and his wife Vicky on the occasion of their marriage, and a Chorale Prelude for solo organ, composed for William Whitehead's Orgelbüchlein Project. The disc also includes several earlier works written for Truro Cathedral Choir: the lovely "Magnificat" and "Nunc Dimittis" of 2001, and the "Missa Triueriensus" of 2005, and "Cantate Domino" written for the Truro 125 celebrations in 2013. Listeners who enjoy contemporary choral music and directors of choirs seeking to expand their repertoire will find much to enjoy and appreciate on this well presented and recorded disc.
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.
|