The musical language is bold and unconventional, which brings into focus the surprisingly contemporary feel of the text. Finnissy's harmonic language is boldly dissonant, yet not harsh or austere. Chromatic alterations and stark tonal juxtapositions are nonetheless sensible and even beautiful within his sophisticated musical landscape. Modest resources, both in terms of the organ as accompaniment and the number of singers in the choir are sufficient for this anthem, but the singers need a fairly high level of technical facility. The music alternates between quasi-recitative passages, grouping first sopranos and tenors, then altos and basses, and homophonic hymn-like passages. The texture never exceeds four parts, yet the music makes noticeable demands on the choir. The organ part is far less technically challenging, yet it adds greatly to the musical effect. * Jason Overall, AAM Journal, February 2017 *
