This large and powerful work functions as a war requiem, as opposed to a liturgical one, though unlike the Britten requiem, it is the Second World War that provides the textual inspiration. The underlying message is similar - a lamentation and deploration of the waste of life and destruction implicit in war. The interjection of massive blocks of tonal material into an overall rather free vocabulary anchors the work in the tradition of the early 20th-century, and provides an unshakable structure, like the columns and arches of a great cathedral. The use of sprechstimme narration of the non-liturgical texts, contrasting with the massed choral texture creates a powerful contrast of attention, and in general the work is one of strong contrasts and seriousness of purpose. Sometimes the abruptness of presentation of deliberately clashing ideas is oddly reminiscent of Havergal Brian. A very striking work, brooding and magnificent,and most recommmendable.