SOUTHERN Voices remains an adventurous and courageous chamber choir whose wide repertoire always produces atmospheric concerts, especially in venues as visually and acoustically exceptional as St Cross Church.

Perhaps largely unaccompanied programmes, such as this one centred on the life of the Virgin Mary, challenge present day listeners almost as much as the singers.

It featured seven 16th century works plus three original contemporary pieces and one arrangement.

he latter was the sumptuous, haunting version of the German chorale Es ist ein Ros entsprungen by Swede Jan Sandstrom setting a quartet of solo voices against chord clusters from the full choir.

From Finland came the evening’s final item, Canticum Mariae virginis by Rautavaara.

Chord clusters again and vivid dynamic contrasts marked this ambitious unaccompanied piece given a confident and highly dramatic rendition by Southern Voices.

The organ, played by Paul Provost, was used either side of the interval in works by the British composers James MacMillan (Seinte Mari moder milde) and Richard Allain (Cana’s Guest).

MacMillan’s folksy ornaments added welcome rhythmic variety to the long melodic lines and varied textures in the choral scoring demonstrated the originality of this fine composer.

Allain’s music from 2012 was well crafted and attractively meditative.

Rich choral singing was applied to all the Renaissance music with subtle dynamic nuances, precision of attacks and admirable legato phrasings despite the somewhat marcato style of conducting from Katherine Dienes-Williams.

Tallis’s massive five-part Salve intemerata Virgo began the programme and rather cruelly exposed five solo voices from the outset.

If some of the choir’s soloists reveal nervousness on occasions the overall impact of Southern Voices is solid and well balanced and in this concert benefited from an enhanced tenor line.

The reflective music was suitably punctuated by readings from Dr Andrew Bishop, a canon of Guildford Cathedral.

Derek Beck