Jonathan Harvey (1939-2012) had links both with Andrew Nethsingha – they grew up, decades apart, in the surroundings of St Michael’s College, Tenbury, where Harvey was a chorister and Nethsingha’s father was organist – and with St John’s College, Cambridge, where Harvey was a student and Nethsingha now directs the choir. This album of liturgical choral music pays wonderful tribute to Harvey. Works include the ecstatic Praise Ye the Lord and Toccata for Organ and Tape, the richly challenging Missa Brevis and several other short works. Harvey used to describe music coming out of silence and dissolving back into it. It’s a good starting point. The Choir of St John’s tackles all with confidence and clarity.
