The powerful imagery of the Ascension has inspired generations of composers, from Peter Phillips and William Byrd to Gerald Finzi, Charles Villiers Stanford and Olivier Messiaen. The first part of this recording is in the form of an Anglican service of Choral Evensong; this is followed by Messiaen’s organ work L’Ascension, performed by Matthew Owens.

The choral works on the disc all have particular associations with the Cathedral, and some receive their premiere recording here. From James MacMillan’s meditative Tremunt videntes angeli to the rich fabric of Richard Allain’s Exon Service, the Choir of St Mary’s weaves a complexly beautiful sonic tapestry in the cathedral’s generous acoustic.