For a "united mass", this really is a united mass! Three Dutch choirs from different denominations have got together to sing a sort of grand mass, made up of pieces from all over the world and throughout history, going from the late Medieval works of Jean Mouton and Clemens non Papa to the contemporary era with Ēriks Ešenvalds and Nico Muhly, via Verdi and Poulenc, in a sleeve signed by Anthony Pitts, who chose the pieces. Note that the commission for this ecumenical work was issued in 2008 by the Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady (Illustre Lieve Vrouwe Broederschap) based in Bois-le-Duc in the Netherlands, founded in 1318, and which has a history of commissioning works like this. The listener will have to make an effort to switch from one epoch and one country to another, but to be sure there is a consistent sound, provided by Cappella Pratensis, the Dutch Chamber Choir and the National Netherlands Youth Choir, under the direction of the great British choir leader Stephen Layton. © SM/Qobuz