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St Cuthbert OratorioBeating TimeST. CUTHBERT ORATORIO 'His work is unfashionably easy on the ear', writes Michael White in the notes accompanying this new oratorio by Will Todd. This young composer's orchestral writing is reminiscent of Vaughan Williams and lovers of choral music will find much to enjoy in St. Cuthbert. The text by Ben Dunwell narrates incidents in the life of Cuthbert who became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685 AD. Cuthbert is portrayed as a man of prayer dependent on his Lord, 'Strengthen me, my dear Lord. You are the friend who has been at my side so long. Christ is my shield, to Him my soul must give. In Him alone I lived, in Him alone I die and live'. Vocal composerIt is refreshing to discover a successful, contemporary classical composer so vocal and open about the importance to him of his own Christian faith too; something which Todd has made no secret about in his interviews with the press. The concluding chorus of 'Hosanna' is one of the most uplifting pieces of modern classical music I have heard in a long time. So if, like me, until a few weeks ago, you'd never heard of Will Todd, you may want to get to know him and be inspired by this God-centred work. Dr. Trevor Stammers,
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