Drone Mass is a profoundly atmospheric work, at times reminiscent of the meditative minimalism of composers such as Pärt or Górecki, and represents what the late Jóhann Jóhannsson called ‘a distillation of a lot of influences and obsessions’. This recording of the mysterious, and timeless, Drone Mass is a further reminder of Jóhann Jóhannsson’s rare visionary talent.

Previously unrecorded the Drone Mass was described by Jóhannsson, as ‘a contemporary oratorio’. Written for voices, string quartet and electronics, it was commissioned and premiered by the American Contemporary Music Ensemble, aka ACME, who toured and recorded with Jóhannsson for almost ten years.

Now they have made the world premiere recording of this richly atmospheric work, in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Theatre of Voices, conducted by Paul Hillier, also a multiple Grammy Award-winner. The members of both ACME and Theatre of Voices worked closely with the composer many times, both in the studio and in multiple live performances and tours, before his untimely death.