Holst: The Hymn of Jesus; Delius: Sea Drift; Cynara

Holst Hymn of Jesus; Delius Sea Drift & Cynara
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Artist: Roderick Williams, Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir, Mark Elder, Gustav Holst, Frederick Delius
Genre: Classical
Label: Hallé

Holst's Hymn of Jesus, setting texts from the Apocrypha, is attractively heterodox for a religious work. The composer was initially drawn by the line "Ye who dance not, know not what we are knowing," and the music gets to dance as well as make solemn references to plainsong. The lilt and wilt and often lazily wistful loveliness of Delius's Whitman setting, Sea Drift, are presented with cushioned sensuality by Mark Elder. There are smoothly contoured contributions from the Hallé choirs, and Roderick Williams is a honey-toned baritone soloist. halle.co.uk

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan is a music critic and Irish Times contributor