Search - Gloriae Dei Cantores :: The Doctrine of Wisdom: Sacred Choral Music of William Mathias

An outstanding demonstration of choral and musical artistry

Colin Graham | 03/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of some of the sacred choral music written by William Mathias is beautifully sung and extremely well-recorded.



The programme is well-balanced and includes some of Mathias's more virtuosic works for choir, which demand and receive articulate, well-tuned and dynamic performances from the Gloriae Dei Cantores and their director Elizabeth Patterson. Most of the works have received few performances, to my knowledge, and even fewer recordings.



The performers are well-known as exponents of Gregorian chant, but their commitment to and belief in all styles of choral music clearly shines through in these rivetting performances.



The works cover a broad span of Mathias's all-too-quickly-ended life from 1973 to 1992 (the year of his death) and demonstrate both the eclecticism, humour and consistency of his voice as a composer. For those unfamiliar with his works, this is an ideal introduction. For those who already know his work well, like myself, this is a wonderful addition of rareties and a fitting memorial to a composer who is under-represented in the catalogues.



I would give it 10 stars if I could **********



"