> Guardian Review

The Guardian | Friday 12th March 2004 | Edward Greenfield

Following up Richard Hickox's brilliant Chandos issue of two Hummel masses comes more evidence of the vigour that this neglected composer brought to his choral works. On the recommendation of Haydn he was carrying on the tradition of writing annual masses for Prince Esterhazy, demonstrating what a sense of drama he had in illustrating the liturgy, never resorting to note-spinning, as he often does in his keyboard writing.

Here with New Zealand forces, including the brilliant professional chamber choir, TOWER Voices, we have the longest of Hummel's five Masses along with an electrifying setting of the Te Deum.

Both were written in 1806, and one is constantly reminded that this was the period of the Napoleonic wars, when each of these works so often features martial music with fanfares, trumpets and drums.

A thrilling issue, all the more recommendable at a super-bargain price.

See review at http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/story/0,11712,1167085,00.html