Scotland had some very beautiful medieval music preserved in a St Andrews manuscript alongside French repertory. One piece nestles here among plainchant and alluring modern vocal items by composers ranging from true Scots such as James MacMillan (his superb Os mutorum) and James McCarthy (the hypnotic The Stars in Their Courses) to Joanne Metcalf, Peter McGarr and John Tavener. All pick up on the distinctive resonance of Scots spirituality and the immaculate tuning and balance of the four female singers of Canty. William Taylor weaves harp interludes with atmospheric skill, even enhancing the plainchant. Ethereally beautiful.
Carmina Celtica: Medieval and contemporary spiritual songs, Canty/Tavener, William Taylor (harp) | CD review
Nicholas Kenyon
(Linn Records)
Contributor
Nicholas Kenyon
Nicholas Kenyon is managing director of the Barbican Centre and was director of the BBC Proms from 1996 to 2007. He wrote the Faber Pocket Guide to Mozart
Nicholas Kenyon
The GuardianTramp
