Poulenc Sacred Music by The Cambridge Singers and City of London Sinfonia conducted by John Rutter

This recording forms yet another link in the recently released Collegium choral series, directed by John Rutter.

These guys must have spent many hours in the studio laying down some serious tracks, most of which make for very enjoyable listening with a fairly varied repertoire.

Poulenc is not widely known for his religious compositions, despite them making up a substantial part of his output and an area of his work which he considered to be important.

In an interview given in 1955, before the Gloria was written, he said "I think, in fact, that I've put the best and most genuine part of myself into it...forgive my lack of modesty, but I have a feeling that, in that sphere, I've really produced something new, and I'm not far off in thinking that, if people are still interested in my music 50 years from now, it'll be more in the Stabat Mater than the Movements perpetuels."

Poulenc's sincere religious impulse can be clearly heard, particularly in the Gloria. Simple, but dramatic scoring dips and weaves among a wide range of cleverly used dynamics to highlight the text.

There is a distinct feeling of out-and-out happiness with bright and sunny, lilting, fluid lines running through the melodies, counterpoints and developments.

His use of unusual but not outlandish intervals brings the listener back to earth after some delightfully happy scoring which reminds us we are listening to a composer of the 20th Century and not Vivaldi.

In fact, Poulenc skilfully includes references to all the best sacred composers.

If you can't beat 'em join 'em. But his music is not plagiaristic in the slightest.

He simply acknowledges the great composers who have gone before him, and adds his own distinctive voice to this most traditional of settings.

The Cambridge Singers, in true form, sing with gusto and skill, occasionally faltering with a wild note.

Collegium Records CSCD 506