Wood, C.: St. Mark Passion

Charles Wood's "St. Mark Passion" is a profound and captivating exploration of sacred music, released on Naxos in 2008. This avant-garde masterpiece clocks in at just over an hour, offering a rich and immersive listening experience. The album is structured around the passion narrative from the Gospel of Mark, interspersed with hymns that add depth and reflection to the storytelling.

Wood's composition is a choral tour de force, featuring a diverse cast of vocalists including the Evangelist, Jesus, the Chorus, and various other characters like Judas, Peter, and Pilate. Each track is a meticulously crafted piece, blending narrative and musical expression to create a powerful and moving journey through the passion story.

The album opens with the stirring "Hymn: Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle" and continues through a series of Gospels and hymns, each contributing to the overall narrative. Highlights include the dramatic "Third Gospel" with its intricate interplay between the Evangelist, High Priest, Jesus, and the Chorus, and the hauntingly beautiful "Hymn: My God, I love Thee" sung by a soprano.

The final track, "Toccata-Prelude on Pange Lingua," serves as a fitting conclusion, leaving the listener with a sense of resolution and contemplation. Charles Wood's "St. Mark Passion" is a testament to his skill as a composer and his ability to evoke deep emotional and spiritual responses through music.