Clive Osgood has written a companion piece to J. S. Bach’s celebrated Magnificat. Both composers use the tonus peregrinus – a psalm tone in Gregorian chant, which in Lutherism is associated with the Magnificat (Meine Seele erhebt den Herren).

This CD has a short running time of just under 32 minutes but, nevertheless, the music-making and the new composition are magnificent. Robert Lewis directs, bringing many interesting subtleties from the musicians under his control. The music is full of nuance and they capture this well. The opening is grand and the composer’s intentions for the work are well displayed.

The tonality verges on having jazz influences, and at times struck me as being ‘filmatic’ in its concept. There is also a hint of Latin-American rhythms and its overall structure is formal. There is rhythmic drive, flair, craft and at times beautiful gentleness in the music. Certainly worth a listen and available as a physical disc and on streaming platforms.