Hyperion Records

Let all mortal flesh keep silence was published in 1925. It achieves its mysterious effect at the outset by using tenor and bass parts in octaves, followed by upper voices only at the words 'and lift itself above all earthly thought.' This high-pitched texture returns as the words 'the Cherubim with many eyes' chime out with a short, arpeggiated ostinato-figure in the bass part. The final dramatic alleluias lead to a restatement of the opening material with a dark choral accompaniment.

from notes by William McVicker © 1990