“Contemporary music and Commissioning have been central features of the last fifteen years at St John’s. It’s been a joy to work with talented student composers, singers and instrumental- ists; my own musicianship has been greatly enriched by their creativity and energy… After a 30-month break from sessions during the pandemic, we were very pleased to be able to record again in 2022. The material on this album comes from various times of year, whilst we were also continuing our Magnificat series. For the final sessions in December the outdoor temperature was forty degrees colder than it had been for the previous recording in July! The personnel of the lower voices had also largely changed, but I hope you will hear a successful continuity of sound- world. All the composers are alive today but, at the suggestion of one of them, we have omitted dates of birth so as not to intrude on their privacy. I’ve curated a sequence of music which aims to celebrate some of the broad range of styles in 21st-century choral writing. The premiere of Iain Farrington’s Nova Nova was the final piece in my last St John’s broadcast – I have often enjoyed pushing the boundaries of the Anglican choral tradition!” – Andrew Nethsingha
CHORAL AND SONG CHOICE ★★★★★ Performance ★★★★★ Recording “The album gives a remarkable overview of contemporary choral trends…The choir’s musicianship is superb and its vocal balance perfectly calibrated; the textures vibrant and the sensuous beauty of the St John’s sound is expertly captured by Signum…A valuable addition to the choral library” – BBC Music Magazine
“A superlative album… The sequence is beautifully planned and feels seamless” – Choir & Organ
“This CD, with the now fully mixed choir of St John’s, is outstanding in content and performance. It represents both a culmination of achievement and shines a light on the new possibilities for choral music in the future. It would be a mistake not to buy this.” – Organists’ Review
“This superlative album represents Andrew Nethsingha’s exploration of contemporary music during his fifteen years as Director of Music…beautifully planned and feels seamless…What a legacy he leaves” – Cathedral Music