Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This CD is the result of an ambitious project featuring the Choir of Southwell Minster, directed by Paul Hale, in their first recording on the Regent label. For this disc the men and boys choir of Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire travelled to their twin town of Sées in Normandy to record the monumental double organ masses of Louis Vierne (1870-1937) and Jean Langlais (1907-1991) using the two original, and recently restored, Cavaillé-Coll organs of the cathedral - the small Orgue de Choeur (Choir organ) built in 1880 and here played by Hilary Punnett, and the much larger Grand Orgue at the Cathedral's west end, built in 1883 and played by Simon Hogan. For the first time, the distinctive colours of authentic 19th century Cavaillé-Coll instruments, for which the works were written, are heard in a recording made by an English cathedral choir. The disc also includes two major 20th century French solo organ works to demonstrate the tonal range of the main Cavaillé-Coll organ: 'Prélude, Adagio et Choral varié sur le thème du "Veni creator"', by Maurice Duruflé(1902-1986), and 'Te Deum', by Jeanne Demessieux (1921-1968). In the Duruflé work the variations are interspersed with the Veni creator chant on which they are based, sung by the men of the choir. The Masses are both full of drama. Unlike, say, a Haydn Mass which can sound like a gentle stroll up the primrose path to Heaven, the Masses by Vierne and Langlais both give the impression of a soul being snatched from the very jaws of Hell. The battle of the organs, with the mighty West organ being balanced by the combined Choir and Choir organ are glorious and any listener with an interest in organ music will be thrilled to hear this disc. The singing is also notably good and all the performances have been well captured by engineer Gary Cole.

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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