Eric Whitacre and the Tallis Scholars new single preview

13 March 2013, 13:45 | Updated: 19 March 2013, 12:36

Eric Whitacre explains the inspiration behind his new piece for the Tallis Scholars - watch a clip from the world premiere and listen to a preview, and let us know what you think below.

In celebration of the Tallis Scholars' 40th anniversary year, Peter Phillips commissioned a new work by Eric Whitacre, which was premiered in London earlier this month. The new piece, recorded in the Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, is set for release next week - but if you can't wait until then, you can listen to a preview on ClassicFM.com.

Eric explained the inspiration and the concept around his beautiful composition: "As the angels were singing, this light was coming through the stained glass and refracting so that it was the sound of the Renaissance, the sound of the Tallis Scholars, being refracted a little, through me. I think, even if I were to try to write in the style of Thomas Tallis, it would sound like me - I can't ever escape me, so the end result hopefully sounds modern, but ancient at the same time."

On Monday night's Smooth Classics, Margherita Taylor gave the world premiere play of this track - listen again to it here (available for 7 days after broadcast - listen from 26 minutes in). Let us know what you think of Eric's new piece in the comments below.

Reading this on the Classic FM app? Watch the video here