Released in 1997 to great critical acclaim, Arvo Part’s De Profundis is, like many of his choral works, a work of majestic religiosity. These compositions, which date from the rather wide range of 1964 to 1990, are beautifully set modern liturgical pieces and include some of Part’s earliest work in the tintinnabuli style that he is most often associated with in which great emphasis is placed upon the scale and triad, which often can be heard in various voicings through out the entirety of these compositions. This continuous chord tends to lend the compositions a timeless or modal feeling reminiscent of medieval choir music. The choir here, led by Paul Hillier, one of the foremost interpreters of Part’s choral, is supported by subtle use of organ and percussion. Deep and profoundly moving, De Profundis is an impassioned meditation on spirituality by one of the great composers of our time. [CC] (November 12, 2007)