The Elysian Singers perform the choral works of composer, James MacMillan. MacMillan characteristically draws inspiration for his vocal works from recurring themes such as the Catholic Church and/or Scottish traditional culture. The most substantial works on this recording is Cantos Sagrados ('Sacred Songs'). MacMillan takes the poems of Latin American poets Ariel Dorfman and Ana Maria Mendosa, and combine their settings of political repression with traditional religious texts to create a powerful combination of liberation theology. The result is at times delicate, and then terrifying. The composer's intentions were to create a work both sacred and secular, being timeless yet contemporary. The Elysian Singers, under the direction of Sam Laughton, were founded in 1986. They have established a national reputation as a young and lively chamber choir, winning awards for commissioning new music.