Reviewed by Stella Redburn

I found listening to this, the soundtrack for the 2014 performances of the Dorset community theatre project The Poole Passion, a very powerful and moving experience. It works perfectly well without the acting, although it made me want to go to Poole and see their next Passion production. The music is taken from many sources but the recording still makes a refreshingly different whole. I was captivated from the first few notes Alexandra sings on the opener. There is a strong Middle Eastern soundscape with Aramaic and Latin being used, the latter being intoned by guest baritone Jonathan Price on "Golgotha" and "Sanctus". "River", "Lament Of The Tenebrae", "We Have Fallen" and "Eleutheria" are more hymn-like songs with strong melodies and memorable lines. "Lament Of The Shalmaj" is my favourite, a setting of the Lord's Prayer. The mediaeval shawm opens with raw power keening over a ground tone, followed by the exotic sounding Aramaic setting. Complete magic! "Gethsemene" opens with the violin in the wilderness and leads to relentless drums which build and build before Richard gives us the pain-filled prayer in the garden. There are more exciting African drums in "Golgotha" for the crucifixion. "Resurrection" takes simple Latin words while breathless hope becomes triumphant certainty. Thoroughly recommended.

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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