Vasari Singers:Backhouse - Briggs/ Filsell: Contemporary Choral Music

This recording brings together two of today's finest British organist/composers and includes specially commissioned works. Jeremy Filsell's music is rooted in a long liturgical tradition and ranges from a poignant Epitaph to a Te Deum which recreates the spirit of William Walton's glorious piece for the 1953 Coronation. David Briggs's Pange lingua portrays the wonders of the Holy Communion in music, and his dramatic and grandiose Messe pour Saint-Sulpice also has moments of quiet, emotional profundity. The Vasari Singers' Great British Anthems (8.572504) has been described as essential listening (Gramophone).The Vasari Singers have already been recognised as superb performers, with their acclaimed album Great British Anthems (8.572504) given Recommended status by Gramophone magazine. Jeremy Filsell's reputation as a performer also precedes him in his accompaniment of songs by Vierne (8.572346) and Widor (8.572345) which have been acclaimed as deeply felt and extremely communicative (Fanfare). The creative frisson of the close collaborations in this recording makes it uniquely special, with both composers performing alongside the Vasari Singers and providing invaluable insight into their works, including those specially commissioned for this CD.