Works by two composers deeply grounded in cathedral music provided two of the most satisfying premières of last year during its closing weeks.

Paul Spicer's impressive new hour-long Advent Oratorio, heard in Lichfield Cathedral, set a well-chosen, subtly inflected scriptural Advent text by the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright.

What with Bishops knocking songs like Away In a Manger and the shops piping wall-to-wall Slade and Wizzard, it can seem at times as if the traditional Christmas carol has become an endangered species.

Well, if that is the case, then no-one told the Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir - or the 1,100-plus people who turned out on a brisk December night to hear their annual Carols for All service at Lichfield Cathedral.

What a strange situation a composer finds himself in when he creates a new musical work. A painter can view his pictures in his studio, a writer reads his finished work in private, but a composer of large musical works must wait for his performers and audience to gather together before the music can become reality.

The first and second coming of the Messiah involves us all, and Spicer makes us continually aware of this in the urgently dramatic, occasionally reflective, unfolding of this worthy successor to his Easter Oratorio of 2000.

Bishop Tom Wright's libretto draws from a wide range of biblical sources, but expresses so much in throat-grabbing, colloquial terms, and the remarkable Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir (celebrating its 50th anniversary) ... delivered its message with committed engagement.

The Bruckner Mass in E Minor…demonstrated from the outset the fine rapport between conductor Philip Scriven and The Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir. The choir and orchestra imbued this difficult work with an impressive depth of feeling and I look forward to hearing the new oratorio for Advent 2009 that they have commissioned from the fine composer Paul Spicer.

The choir's confidence was apparent from the outset, with the opening chorus, sung from memory… giving a particularly vibrant "light" moment. … Chorally, however, this performance was a fine example of Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir at its confident best; some uncertainties … were firmly outweighed by vibrant, enthusiastic singing.

Philip Scriven conducted the choir, the Birmingham Bach Orchestra and a fine team of soloists in a dramatic and yet intimate performance, in which the events of the first Holy Week were clearly and meaningfully presented by both soloists and choir. … The poignant opening winds leading to a strong opening chorus set the tone … The chorus was responsive throughout, and made both the reflective and dramatic parts of the text come alive.

Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir was joined by the Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir and a much-enlarged St Chad's Camerata for a stunning performance of this work in the Cathedral, providing a body of some 250 musicians under the control of Philip Scriven's baton to tell the story of the passing of Gerontius's soul through death into purgatory and toward eternity. It was a privilege for me to have my first opportunity to perform in this great work, truly the pinnacle of Elgar's achievement, and those in the audience who were acting as my ears were equally moved.

It was a perfect piece of preparation for Christmas. … The choir is large and its standards are high… A special work in a special venue performed by a Special Choir made for a special night

What a delightful Mozartfest we enjoyed in the cathedral, courtesy of the Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir and St. Chad's Camerata, conducted by Philip Scriven ... The Choir's excellent tuning was apparent from the start ..... All of the performers rose magnificently to this special occasion ... This combination of an excellent young quartet, a well-balanced and sensitive orchestra and a committed choir has produced a most fitting concert to celebrate Mozart's special year, and augurs well for a splendid Messiah in December.