Cappella Nova - MacMillan: Consecration - The Scotsman

It’s strange to think that any of Sir James MacMillan’s music might have gone unrecorded, but here’s proof to the contrary. In the latest of Cappella Nova’s ongoing Linn recordings of MacMillan’s choral music, the Scots-based vocal ensemble, under director Alan Tavener and organist Steven McIntyre, remedy the situation with some fairly recent works – from the beautiful Culham Motets and angrily dramatic A Special Appeal to numerous “family pieces” written for the MacMillan offspring weddings – and also the earlier St Anne’s Mass, notable for its innate simplicity and re-use of the composer’s Tryst melody that has remained a subliminal cypher through so much of his music. Tavener flavours each performance with easy sophistication and sensitivity to the range of emotions. The final Sing Joyfully to the Lord is exultant. McIntyre adds his own explosive touch with the virile Albanian-inspired organ solo, Kenga e Krushqve.