CARL RÜTTI (b.1949): Requiem.

Description: Rütti's Requiem is an extremely fine, moving and instantly approachable specimen of this most personal and challenging genre of spiritual expression in music. The composer's language is tonal, and falls into the broad category of the English choral tradition, though with interesting and unusual inflections - a strong suggestion of the blues in the Kyrie, for instance. The composer avoids a Dies irae as such, but the powerfully driven central section of the Offertorium fulfils this function, dramatically contrasting with the intimacy of grief expressed elsewhere throughout the piece. The music is passionate and full-blooded, sensuous, harmonically glowing and melodically memorable, ultimately a very personal and intimate statement. Olivia Robinson (soprano), Edward Price (baritone), The Bach Choir, Jane Watts (organ), Southern Sinfonia; David Hill.