Malcolm Williamson's choral output has been sparingly covered on CD so this new recording by NAXOS is very welcome. Doubly so as it features the excellent Joyful Company of Singers under Peter Broadbent, one of Europe's leading chamber choirs.
Australian composer Malcolm Williamson was the first non-Briton to be appointed Master of the Queen's Music, taking over the post from Sir Arthur Bliss. His vast output covers almost every genre imaginable, including a large proportion of choral music. He was a controversial choice for Master of the Queen's Music (Benjamin Britten or Michael Tippet were expected to receive the honour) and remained controversial in his seeming lack of output and interest in composing for Royal occasions. He died in 2003 at the age of 71 and was the only modern Master of the Queen's Music not to receive a Knighthood.
This disc gives an overview of Williamson's choral writing, from the deeply spiritual Symphony for Voices, written between 1960-1962, through to his Requiem for a Tribe Brother, written in 1992, when Williamson learned of the death of a young Aboriginal friend. The work was premièred by the Joyful Company of Singers, featured on this disc, who also performed it with Peter Broadbent at Williamson's own funeral in 2003.
The Requiem is particularly effective and is also more musically accesible then some of the earlier pieces. All in all a welcome addition to the CD Choral catalogue and hopefully the Requiem will also be added to the repertoire of Choral Societies.