I like the music of Jonathan Dove. I do. He writes cleverly and accessibly for community choirs (think of Passing of the Year); his sacred choral anthems are dramatic, mesmerising, colourful
(Seek Him That Maketh The Seven Stars being a particularly fine example of all these); but I found Gaia Theory, premiered at this year's BBC Proms, a little disappointing. It
seemed to lack focus, or direction, and wore its indebtedness to the music of John Adams a little too obviously on its sleeve. I liked the piece, don't get me wrong; but on this occasion, I wasn't as
engaged or as seduced as I have been by previous works.
