Sanctuary, the Canadian ensemble consisting of
Peter Togni on organ,
Christoph Both on cello, and Jeff Reilly on bass clarinet, has a performing base at St. Mary's Basilica in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ensemble is listed as the composer for most of the works on the CD, but several pieces are credited to individual members of the group. The trio is supported by the
Sanctuary Strings, conducted by
Alain Trudel. The majority of the pieces are contemplative, slow moving, melancholy, and strongly influenced by new age music and mellow free jazz. Plainchant is frequently the melodic basis, contributing to the somber and reflective tone of the music. Several pieces, particularly "Lament" and "Passio," stand out for uncharacteristically dramatic, even anguished solos. The three solo instruments create a warm blend that's saved from blandness by timbral diversity, and the strings provide a pillowy support into which the soloists can disappear, or over which they can soar. The album would be of strong interest to fans of new age music who are looking for an acoustic ensemble that gently pushes the envelope of traditional new age fare. The spacious acoustics reflect the ambience of the basilica for which the music was created.