O Sacrum Convivium

This new disc with the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge under Andrew Nethsingha - recording exclusively for Chandos - pays homage to French early 20th c. sacred choral music. Louis Vierne and Jean Langlais employ modern chromatic harmonic language and colorful organ writing in their respective Messes solennelles. Messiaen's motet O sacrum convivium! Is his only published contribution to liturgical choral music. Aside Poulenc's Four Lenten Motets we hear his late four short prayers 'by St Francis of Assisi', a work for a male choir of tenors that exhibits remarkable variety of color.