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Gabriel Jackson, and Others: Requiem, Motets
Vasari Singers
Jeremy Backhouse, conductor
Naxos 8.573049 (2012; 70:06)
Prominent among his British contemporaries by reason of a prolific output and engaging style, Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962) is now enjoying much attention by some of the nation's finest choirs. Jackson is a master at turning a memorable phrase; a motif or pattern grasps the listener and is immediately appealing. His Requiem does not disappoint in this regard, especially in its hypnotic conclusion. This work is an intriguing blend of the traditional movements of the Latin Mass for the Dead with sources far beyond the conventional canon. What unites these diverse texts is their shared view of death, not as the end, but "the gateway to a better world." As such, this is a substantial composition that would well serve an unaccompanied choir eager to present a major work that embraces a wide range...