1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Choral music doesn't come much better than this, November 3, 2000
This review is from: The Music of Donald Wheelock (Audio CD)
The choir is spectacular at creating a wall of sound which envelops the listener; the voices meld together yet the words are comprehendible, an essential quality for liturgical music. The selections provide a pleasant mix of the old and the new.
Victoria's Magnificat combines plainsong and polyphony set for a four-part choir; this rendition brings out the celebratory nature of the words.
Gombert's Lugebat David Absalon was unknown to me. The choir seems to be continually changing shape as the expressed emotion of the music changes.
The pieces by Byrd and Poulence are well known and well done. The antiphonal Quem vidistis pastores and the motet Alleluya psallat are excellent examples of their genre.
The more contemporary pieces are all solidly sacred music that could be used liturgically i.e. they honor the text and use music to enhance not overwhelm the text.
The performance is such that I will watch for additional recordings - and I recommend that you listen to this gem of an album.
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