John Rutter has enjoyed a long association with King's College, Cambridge, and the "spacious acoustic of King's chapel", such that he wonders in the booklet accompanying this release "whether the sound of King's might be a subconscious influence on all my choral writing." Certainly all of the music here sounds absolutely right, realised with uttermost sensitivity and fulfilling the "ideals of beauty and calm reverence" which so inspire the composer. The Requiem, written in 1985 as a concert work suitable for church use, is in the introspective lineage of Faure's Requiem, while extending the English choral tradition of Vaughan Williams's Mass in G Minor and Howell's Requiem. The seven-movement work has an arch structure, with the music ranging from the tranquil atmosphere derived from Gregorian chant to passages of almost overwhelming emotional intensity. In marked contrast to such contemporary English choral works as John Surman's Proverbs and Songs, it is music with a similar timeless eternity to the writing of John Tavener. The second half of the programme contains six shorter pieces, three specifically written for King's, and the Cantus and Te Deum featuring the rich brass of the Wallace Collection. Each is a distinctive miniature gem, leaving a final impression of a peace, and a beauty that passes understanding. --Gary S. Dalkin