Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

The CD sub-title promises us "French Romantic Choral Music" and that is exactly what we are given. This is a comprehensive selection of beautiful small-scale sacred works written by four late 19th and early 20th century French Romantic composers, including some works new to the catalogue. The composers are the well-known Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) and Camille Saint Saens (1835-1921) and the considerably less familiar Vincent d'Indy (1851-1931) and Deodat de Severac (1872-1921). The composers reflect the time in which they lived with French Catholicism going through a period of renewed emphasis on the supernatural aspects of faith with the growth of a warm, emotional piety touching the hearts of ordinary believers in pilgrimages, processions, the cult of saints and miracles achieved through fervent prayer. Devotion to Mary as chief among the saints grew, and the Blessed Sacrament was honoured on its feast days of Corpus Christi and in other devotions. Much of the music here recorded reflects these strands of piety as expressed in the large, well-to-do churches of Paris and other cities with professional musical establishments. This ecclesiastical atmosphere is too full on incense for your reviewer to feel comfortable but he can and will say that the singing from The Choir of Christ's College, Cambridge under the direction of David Rowland and accompanied by Roxy Summerfield on the organ is absolutely right. There are too many soloists to list in a short review but all acquit themselves splendidly and this is a very fine collection, recorded with exceptional clarity by Gary Cole in Jesus College Chapel.

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