Clare Maclean: Complete Choral Music
Maclean began her choral life as a singer in this choir, and her writing shows an intimate grasp of its style. The result is gorgeous listening: music inspired by the spiritual, and a distinctive voice amid the noise of contemporary composition.
Sydney Chamber Choir
Nicholas Routley (conductor)
The programme gathers Maclean’s complete choral works to that date, from Christ the King (1984) to Rain (1994). The choir was recorded in the chapel at St Scholastica’s Convent, Glebe, in October 1994 and April 1995.
Reviews
A modern composer who deserves wider recognition
I was first exposed to Clare Maclean's choral music while singing in my university chamber choir. At the time, I didn't know the effect it would have on me; however, I came to realize that it's the kind of music that, once heard, stays with you. Maybe it's because her voice as a composer is so uniquely female, or because it expresses such a universal spirituality. Whatever the reason, this is some of the most glorious music I have ever heard. I highly recommend this recording. Listen carefully - you won't be disappointed.
Artists
Clare Maclean
Clare Maclean writes a cappella choral music of sinuous elegance and radiance, folding plainchant, Renaissance polyphony and Jewish liturgical melody into richly textured settings of sacred and poetic texts.

Nicholas Routley
Nicholas Routley is a conductor, pianist and composer who founded the Sydney Chamber Choir in 1975 and has shaped its work in Renaissance polyphony and new Australian choral music.

Sydney Chamber Choir
Widely recognised as one of Australia's finest choirs, the Sydney Chamber Choir marked its 25th anniversary in 2000. The Choir continues to inspire and enchant Sydney audiences with its versatility and brilliant performances.
Tracks
- Et misericordia Clare Maclean 10:44
- Hope There Is Clare Maclean 5:01
- A West Irish Ballad Clare Maclean 7:57
- Love Was His Meaning Clare Maclean 13:32
- Rain Clare Maclean 1:39
- Christ the King Clare Maclean 8:58
Performers
- Nicholas Routley · conductor
- Sydney Chamber Choir · choir
Contributors
Annotations
Clare Maclean
Clare Maclean writes a cappella choral music of sinuous elegance and radiance, folding plainchant, Renaissance polyphony and Jewish liturgical melody into richly textured settings of sacred and poetic texts.
Cover Photograph
Ken Martin
Ken Martin is a photographer whose cover and artist photographs appear on Tall Poppies recordings from the 1990s.

Annotations
Nicholas Routley
Nicholas Routley is a conductor, pianist and composer who founded the Sydney Chamber Choir in 1975 and has shaped its work in Renaissance polyphony and new Australian choral music.
Where to listen
Clare Maclean: Complete Choral Music is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Clare Maclean: Complete Choral Music is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- TP073
- Total playing time
- 47 minutes 51 seconds
- Producer
- Belinda Webster
- Recording Engineer
- Belinda Webster
- Venue
- Chapel at St Scholastica's Convent, Glebe, Sydney
- Thanks to
- A.S. White Bequest
Dr Martin Wesley-Smith - Credit
- Clare Maclean
Ken Martin
Nicholas Routley - Release date
- 29 Jul 1995
- Label
- Tall Poppies
- Musical work
copyright - © 1995 Tall Poppies Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1995 Tall Poppies Records
- Category
- Australian Classics
- Genres
- Contemporary Classical, Choral & Sacred
- Barcode
- EAN 9399000007326
Related recordings

Osanna
A second Tall Poppies disc of Clare Maclean’s a cappella choral music. Few Australian composers have built so sustained a body of unaccompanied sacred and poetic works, shaped by her faith and her years singing with the Sydney Chamber Choir.

Landscape's Creatures
A collection of recent Australian choral music, mostly by younger composers. It is good to see that choral writing is alive and well in Australia. Each work makes a strong statement, with a variety of choral techniques and styles.

The Ockeghem Legacy
A celebration of Ockeghem’s life and work. His death prompted many elegies, the most famous being Josquin’s Nimphes des bois. Every composer on this disc is said to have been present at his funeral in 1497.

Crossing a Bridge of Dreams
This CD gathers some of Anne Boyd's most enduring works, mostly from the 1980s. Many pieces reflect her passion for Asian music, heard especially in the flute writing. Premiere performers return for the recording, among them John Harding on viola in My Name Is Tian.

Raft Song at Sunrise: Chamber Music, Vol. 2
Following the best-selling first volume of Ross Edwards’s chamber music (TP051), this disc gathers some of his most enduring works, recorded here for the first time.

An Australian Collection
Nineteen tracks drawn from the Tall Poppies catalogue, chosen to show the range and depth of Australian composition and performance across the label’s first decade.