Growling Basses

This is an album of Arvo Part choral works entitled Beatus and is probably as authentic a performance as you could get since it was recorded in the presence of the composer by a native choir, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir directed by Tonu Kaljuste. Part has been well served in recordings by top vocal ensembles from around the world, often with him in attendance but it has to be said that there is something special about the performances given here and even if it is a bit of a cliche, the quality of the bass singing in particular is remarkable and doesn't seem to be replicated by choirs outside of the old Soviet sphere. As to the music, it is the familiar Part style, sparse in his tintinabuli vein and occasionally perilously close to the chill out zone but retaining enough passion and integrity to place it well above such considrations. The settings are all of sacred texts and the performances mostly acappela with just the occasional instrumental colour supplied by an organ accompaniment. Anyone wanting something other than the more well known Part pieces could do worse than investigate this cd.