James MacMillan: Miserere (2011)

performed by Cecilia Osmond (soprano), Christopher Royall (alto), Eamonn Dougan (bass), Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), Mark Dobell (tenor), Rebecca Outram (soprano), Robert Evans (bass), Robert Farley (trumpet), The Sixteen (choir, chorus)
composed by James MacMillan

Write The First Customer Review

This collection of sacred choral music, mostly a cappella, includes an exceptionally attractive assortment of James MacMillan's motets and other works written for liturgical use. It would have to be an exceptional church choir that could negotiate the composer's vocal and choral demands, but for those churches, these pieces would lend considerable musical and emotional power to the service. The Sixteen, Harry Christophers' remarkable mixed chamber choir, is undaunted by the extreme virtuosity required and deliver performances that dazzle in their technical polish and expressive impact. This music, while largely tonal, has enough dissonant spice that anything less than immaculate intonation can sound like mush and the Sixteen nails MacMillan's harmonies beautifully. That purity, coupled with acute precision of articulation, makes these performances exemplary accounts of the music. MacMillan can overshoot in his large-scale choral works, some of which tend to lose impact because they can come across as... Read Less

This collection of sacred choral music, mostly a cappella, includes an exceptionally attractive assortment of James MacMillan's motets and other works written for liturgical use. It would have to be an exceptional church choir that could negotiate the composer's vocal and choral demands, but for those churches, these pieces would lend considerable musical and emotional power to the service. The Sixteen, Harry Christophers' remarkable mixed chamber choir, is undaunted by the extreme virtuosity required and deliver ... Read More