The Souls Of The Righteous was composed for a close friend of David Bednall's, Tom Williams who was, at that time, Director of the Bristol University Madrigal Ensemble. It was written immediately following the death of his grandfather, George Ryall, and received its first performance in St Matriana, Tintagel on the Madrigal Ensemble's tour of Cornwall in 2008.
The Latin version of this text is better known, but it has a direct beauty in its English form. The feeling throughout, and particularly in the outer sections, should be one of warm luminescence.
This piece is from the Choral Signature Series which introduces a wealth of new or recently written choral music to choirs in search of fresh repertoire. The series draws in a rich diversity of living composers and includes both lighter and more challenging contemporary works, offering a thrilling array of varied styles.