Rubbra - Choral Works

Edmund Rubbra is perhaps one of the most neglected in this tradition, and it's sad. Though a Catholic and not an Anglican, his music is perhaps among the greatest English-language liturgical music written in the 20th century, worthy to stand next to Vaughn Williams, Howells, and Walton. Perhaps the problem is that Rubbra is much more difficult to sing than even Howells, making this music that is beyond the average parish choir. This CD of a capella music is a wonderful introduction to this spectacular English composer sung with attention to detail and exquisite intonation.

The first two works on the album illustrate the difficulty of Rubbra's art. The Five Motets are all based on English texts, primarily by Metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century. The melodies are gorgeous, labyrinthine creations that twist from key to key in fresh and surprising ways, heightening the deep spirituality of the texts. The highly tonal, but rich and chromatic idiom makes these works very challenging for the average choir indeed. The second set on the disc is perhaps less challenging but no less beautiful. The Four Carols are more folksy in idiom but just as deeply lovely. They would be wonderful during the Christmas season.

The other English works on the disc are the Madrigal sets. Rubbra prooves a modern master of this style, drawing more on the Italian tradition rather than the English. The Madrigals language is comfortably perched between the 16th and 20th centuries, without sounding self conscious, something that I think is rather difficult to do. Rubbra completely ingests the Renaissance style, but adds occasion spikey harmonies of his own.

The rest of the disc is dedicated to work in Latin. The Laude Sion is a long piece based on a text by St. Thomas Aquinas. The work is typically lovely. The other two works are short settings of the Latin mass text. The Missa a 3 takes Ars Antiqua vocal polyphony as it's starting point. Much of the work is set in a rather straight plainsong style with parallel fourths, fifths and other medieval harmonic techniques. When there is counterpoint, it is much like the counterpoint of Mauchaut, three equal and crossing voices rather than the more refined style of the Rennaissance. The result is beautiful and timeless. The final work on the CD is a short setting of the Mass dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila. This work, despite it's brevity, is lush and gorgeous. Written close to the end of Rubbra's life, he seemed to pour a lifetime of spirituality into it's nine short minutes. It is lovely on disc and must be overwhelming in liturgical use.

The performances by Voces Sacrae are all that you could wish for. This is not a vocal group that I am familiar with. They are a fully professional mixed chamber choir. They sing with the purity of tone that is becoming a hallmark of British choral singing, little to no vibrato, esepcially in the women. The sound is angelic. I look forward to hearing more from this wonderful choir.