Todd, Will - Lux Et Veritas - English Chamber Orchestra
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Two years after their previous Will Todd album, The Call of Wisdom, comes this lyrical new release from Nigel Short and Tenebrae. As the subtitle Music for Peace and Reflection suggests, the repertoire is largely gentle and meditative, but the atmosphere is far from monochrome. Indeed diversity is the watchword of this disc, in particular diversity of scoring (sometimes with orchestra, sometimes with organ, sometimes unaccompanied), diversity of text (some Biblical, some liturgical, some newly written) and diversity of expression (from the urgent entreaties of For Peace to the rapture of In This Place and the impassioned O Lux Beata). Several pieces hark back to Todd s North-Eastern origins: Christus Est Stella sets words by the Venerable Bede, Tidings evokes the mystery of Lindisfarne, In This Place is an adoration of Durham, and the haunting A Celtic Blessing taps into the same Northumbrian hinterland. Todd reveals himself, of course, as a composer of considerable melodic gifts, but also as a fine orchestrator: his lush scorings allow the English Chamber Orchestra strings to shimmer and soar, sometimes underpinned by rippling figurations from harp and piano. The harmonies are full of interest too; jazz inflections are there, as you would expect from the composer of the popular Mass in Blue, but several of the pieces, notably Tidings and Agnus Dei, explore more astringent colours. Tenebrae are on fine form, displaying in spades the effortless silkiness of tone for which they are renowned. This is certainly an album which will work well as soothing background, but it will also amply reward much closer attention. --Ralph WoodwardOne of this year's finest albums. --Classic FMJohn Suchet s Album of the Week Classic FM 'These are beautifully melodic and touching pieces for calm, reflective moments' (John Suchet - Classic FM Online, 29th September 2014)