James MacMillan is renowned for his highly original yet accessible choral music. His prolific output displays an intrinsic understanding of the human voice and his music will undoubtedly stand the test of time. MacMillan’s work is inseparable from its composer’s committed adherence to Roman Catholicism. A sense of this religious belief imbues much of his work, which seeks to combine the sacred with the everyday.

This disc highlights the astonishing variety prevalent in his music, from the powerful and stylistically complex Magnificat and Nunc dimittis to the beautiful and intimate On Love composed in Macmillan’s student days for the wedding of close friends.

Wells Cathedral Choir is in fine voice and they tackle the more challenging works with aplomb and conviction. With their sensitive interpretations and luminous sound it is easy to see why they have been labelled England’s finest cathedral choir.

The closing work on the disc is a hugely demanding work for solo organ, Le tombeau de Georges Rouault, one of only five works for the instrument written by the composer. Organist Jonathan Vaughn gives a masterly performance of this highly virtuosic and elaborate work.

The Choir of Wells Cathedral lives up its reputation as Britain's best cathedral choir...the Wells sound, recorded with appropriate spaciousness but without excessive resonance, easily rises above occasional suggestions of Anglican gentility. Gramophone

Vaughn displays breathtaking virtuosity in Le tombeau...That's not all...he is called upon to add not mere accompaniments but truly virtuosic partnerships with the choir...The choir is, in a word, magnificent. Singing with impressive self-assurance and clearly revelling in Macmillan's uncanny ability to make everything sound perfectly natural even when the technical skills involved are extraordinarily demanding. Int. Record Review

This disc is a double triumph for Wells. Not only does it maintain the world-class standard of their recent recordings, it also secures beyond doubt for them a reputation as the must-have interpreters of contemporary British sacred repertoire...If you only ever buy one disc of MacMillan's choral works, then make it this one. In terms of both choral performance, and in displaying MacMillan's tremendous stylistic range, it can't be beaten. Classic fm *****

MacMillan's vocal writing can be dazzlingly virtuosic...Yet his shorter, simpler pieces are equally engaged with spirituality. The Wells singing is of a consistently high standard (MacMillan's trademark use of melisma is particularly well assimilated), and organist Jonathan Vaughn delivers a scintillating account of Le tombeau de George Rouault. BBC ****