Title - 'A New Heaven' (Decca Records)
Artist - The Sixteen
After thirty years of world-wide performance and recording, The Sixteen, "The Voices of Classic FM", are recognised as one of the world’s greatest ensembles. Comprising both choir and period instrument orchestra, The Sixteen's total commitment to the music it performs is its greatest distinction. Its special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of twentieth century music, is drawn from the passions of conductor and founder, Harry Christophers.
And so The Sixteen and their conductor/founder Harry Christophers celebrate those years together with this all-new release of heart-warming traditional English choral music. The composers featured on this album represent the continuity and evolution of British church music from Victorian times to the second Elizabethan age. These composers were definitely more focused on writing heavenly music that would help lift spirits as the congregation sang.
'A New Heaven' narrows the gap between our secular age and a time when the Anglican Church was among the most important patrons and consumers of British music. It also offers listeners the chance to reconnect with spiritual matters richly expressed by composers with the flair and imagination required to distil big issues of life and death into miniature forms.