This EP consists of four arrangements of choral pieces by
Eric Whitacre, each for marimba quartet. The arrangements are by percussionist
Joby Burgess, and one interesting aspect of the release is that
Whitacre has achieved a level of popularity, even outside his native U.S., at which people treat his work in strange ways. Listeners may not have had a preexisting desire to hear
Whitacre's pristine choral works arranged for marimbas, but these performances work better than you might expect, and they come endorsed by the composer himself. The slower
Whitacre pieces, most of all the ubiquitous Lux Aurumque, work best here: the marimbas shimmer and take on an almost vocal quality. Several of the pieces seem to fade away into nothingness, and here it is not only the players but the producers,
Nick Wollage and
Burgess, who are the real stars, lending a magical atmosphere to London's St. Augustine's church. It's worth seeking out some of the videos that were made of these recording sessions, for they give a feel for the impressive feats of coordination involved, often led by
Burgess with conductor-like gestures. There's an X factor here, coming from the fact that one marvels at how anyone could have come up with this idea, and the EP is well worth hearing.