I just heard, for the first time, Ave Maris Stella by James Macmillan done live at an advent service in our local church; and it was a thrilling and beautiful experience.
I'm genuinely astonished that this music is not better known - but judging by the YouTube numbers, word seems not to have spread about this modern choral gem.
It is highly accessible, consisting almost entirely of block chords in diatonic harmony against high pedal-point sustained notes from the trebles; but with periodic extraordinary dissonances - so it rewards close attention.
The Amen is a wonderful climax - my hair literally bristled when it happened.
