Signum has released the first recording of a wonderfully vivid setting in Latin by Grayston Ives, composed in 2008 during his long and distinguished tenure as Informator Choristarum at Magdalen College, Oxford, specifically for liturgical performance. Although Ives acknowledges that ‘many influences are thrown into the musical melting pot’ (including his teacher Richard Rodney Bennett), he remains thoroughly his own voice. This is an important work.

As a former King’s Singer, ‘Bill’ Ives, steeped in the Anglican choral tradition, writes magnificently, as might be expected, for his mixed vocal forces. His idiom is tonal, his harmonic vocabulary packed with delicious things. Textures have an abundance of variety and the orchestral accompaniment is a further demonstration of his ear for colour. His word-painting skills draw out every dramatic impulse, especially in the quicker sections of the concluding Libera me, which are juxtaposed with moments of achingly beautiful stillness, and the almost over-short Sanctus, which bustles with a brilliant Stravinskian energy.

Ives exquisite score is played to perfection by the Britten Sinfonia. Congratulations to the Jesus College Choir and Richard Pinel on such an impressive achievement… A treasure of a disc, superbly engineered

Gramophone

Of particular note are Ives’ settings of the Sanctus and Benedictus both which use exciting ostinato to gather momentum. The sheer excitement – terror, even – of Libera me is contrasted by the comforting melodies of In Paradisum. The Britten Sinfonia accompany superbly throughout, with insightful brass and percussion at the fore. It is the first time the choirs and orchestra have collaborated on disc, and one can only hope they do so again. This is a fine testament to Richard Pinel’s distinguished tenure as Director of Music”

Organists’ Review

★★★★ An admirable showvcase for the combined forces of Jesus College, Cambridge’s Chapel and College Choirs; the boy trebles of the former and the sopranos of the latter each get a movement to themselves, but othwise sing together, very effectively. The Britten Sinfonia’s playing is immaculate

Choir and Organ

A sumptuous orchestral texture provided by the acclaimed Britten Sinfonia… The fabulous fusion of Richard Pinel’s experienced and widely travelled choral forces is a highly welcome feature of this very fine new issue from the Signum label. The more sustained central vocal ranges are well controlled, yet hugely telling, in their impact on the listener throughout. This wholly successful unity of blend between the boy choristers and the soprano choral scholars and the apportionment of segments to the boys alone impresses particularly.

Cathedral Music Magazine