The first album from the Choir of St John’s with their new music director – Christopher Gray. Leaning into the college’s well-established tradition of championing new music, at the heart of the programme are two triptychs: James MacMillan’s Cantos Sagrados, composed 35 years ago, and Joanna Marsh’s Echoes in Time, commissioned by the College in recent months. There is also a new choral work by Helena Paish and a new organ work by Martin Baker alongside existing works by Roxanna Panufnik and Dobrinka Tabakova. The commissioned works were conceived with the distinctive environment of St Johns’ Victorian chapel (designed by George Gilbert Scott and consecrated in May 1869), its organ and its fine, world-famous choir which has done service since its post-Restoration establishment in the 1670s.
★★★★★ – BBC Music Magazine
“Gray’s St John’s College choir sing it with a confidence and bite that’s compelling.” – The Arts Desk
“Ornate melodies rise in delicate highs, while deeper voices unfold rich and luminous harmonies, weaving a melodic and harmonic interplay that navigates between abundance and constant change.” – Sonograma
“The Choir of St John’s College tackle this demanding programme not just with great accomplishment but also with evident commitment.” – Music Web International