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Recorded Sound Reviews
Recorded Sound Reviews

along with those of Westminster through Holy Week. Baker and the clearly defi ned and the story arc for
Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. The Choir present what would be a typ- each day dutifully encapsulated.
three have a shared history of Or- ical Holy Week at the Cathedral: a The recording leaves no doubt
ganist-Choirmasters, and between combination of polyphony, plain- that Westminster Cathedral Choir

them, over five hundred years of chant, and hymns, some of which is among the fi nest cathedral choirs

music-making. Though the young- are firmly rooted in the Cathedral’s in the world. The level of execution
est of the three , the Cathedral Choir history. The album is anchored by is astonishing, particularly from the

has had an illustrious history of mu- pieces of polyphonic virtuosity by young choristers from whom Baker
sic. Informally, it has, of late, been present and former Masters of Mu- has coaxed a tone so consistent and
considered consistently by many afi - sic: Richard Runciman Terry (the colorful that one forgets at times that
cionados to be best choir of the Big Cathedral’s fi rst Master), George these are boys as young as eight. The
Three. Malcolm, James O’Donnell, and seasoned lay clerks are equally con-
Their latest recording, Vexilla Re- Baker himself. These are comple- sistent, providing a solid foundation
gis, showcases the Choir in its ele- mented by repertoire mainstays by for the choir’s resulting overall sound,
ment. Recorded at the famous Bene- Victoria, Byrd, Lotti, and Durufl é. one which is naturally bright, full,
dictine abbey of Buckfast in Devon, Interspersed among all this polypho- and rich (adjectives I do not often as-
the fantastic ensemble of boys and ny are hymns and various selections sociate with English-style cathedral
men under the skilled direction of of plainchant, all in their proper choirs). This allows Baker to tackle
Martin Baker take us on a journey place, and so the album’s narrative is broader repertoire to showcase the

78 CHORAL JOURNAL June/July 2021 Volume 61 Number 11