Howard Goodall is renowned as a great communicator with a gift for explaining the intricacies of composition to listeners, and is also a composer with considerable lyrical gifts. The present work addresses itself to those who prefer good tunes to musical complexity, and for this resason has attracted some criticism who see the Requiem as yet another work in the 'easy on the ear' tradition of Andrew Lloyd-Webber, and that other popular choral composer, John Rutter. Personally, I do not regard this as a fault. After many years in which classical music has wandered into pathways that the average listener has decided not to follow, music such as 'Eternal Light' goes someway towards reattaching it to the general public. It has the added advantage of being a work that a good amateur choir can actually stage without many long rehearsals 'to learn the notes', though it needs three good soloists.
Yes, there are 'influences' - 'Carmina Burana', Bernstein's 'Chichester Psalms' and - yes - Lloyd-Webber can be seen in the music, but there is sufficient that is original, and can only have been written by the composer of the 'Vicar of Dibley' theme music.
The ten movements of 'Eternal Light' show a tremendous variety in style, with some excellent pieces such as the Requiem aeternam, the Lachrymosa, and 'Lead, kindly light'. The soloists, especially the warm-voiced Natasha March, are excellent.
The only disappointment is with some of the texts chosen. Combining Latin and English texts - following the example of the Britten War Requiem - is a good idea - but some are woefully weak. Christina Rossetti's thoughts on death woukld have been far more poetic than the rather confused symbolism of 'Don't Stand at My Grave and Weep, employed here, even though it is set to some beautiful and memorable music. The 'Flanders Field' setting lacks inspiration, doesn't really fit in here, and is a blemish - hence the four stars.
The companion tracks are worth having: two of them are already well-known items, while the third has music of great intensity.