Padre Pio Prayer
CORO, £15.19
Premiered at a performance by the Sixteen in Westminster Cathedral, the three new choral works by James MacMillan, Rozanna Panufnik and Will Todd are based around St Pio of Pietrelcina’s prayer “Stay with me Lord”. The entire CD is tremendous and prayerful; each new composition echoes another aspect of the prayer. Todd’s version of the prayer has strong jazz influences, while MacMillan’s work at first feels like it is drawing more strongly on the influences of an older liturgical tradition. Panufnik’s interpretation seems darker at first but then holds a strange sort of peace. For those who like to pray by listening to music, this CD is a gift. Anna Arco