Today marks the release of the debut Nonesuch album from composer Rhys Chatham: the outdoor version of his piece A Crimson Grail—featuring 200 guitarists, 16 bassists, five conductors, and one percussionist—performed at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival in 2009.

The BBC writes of A Crimson Grail: "It's a remarkable, engrossing work that plays against rather than panders to expectations." Reviewer Colin Buttimer explains, "If you picture the sound of such a large ensemble of guitarists, it's likely that you'll imagine an overpowering wall of sound, but Chatham's approach is more subtle than that." At once point, the piece even "achieves an immersive, exultant sense of the sublime." Read the review at bbc.co.uk.

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Audiophile Audition gives the album four stars. With this recording, writes reviewer Daniel Coombs, Chatham has "provided both a surprise as well as a pleasurable listening experience."

Coombs goes on to say that the piece, "especially as heard on this recording rather creeps up on the listener, starting quietly, mysteriously." Ultimately, it proves to be "carefully structured, well played and easy to listen to," he writes. "Kudos are due to the constantly amazing sound engineers at Nonesuch for another acoustically rich recording! I enjoyed this and recommend it—go immerse yourself!"

Read the complete album review at audaud.com.

To pick up a copy of A Crimson Grail with audiophile-quality 320 kbps MP3s of the complete album included at checkout, head to the Nonesuch Store.

Chatham and his trio, featuring David Daniell (the concertmaster at the performance of A Crimson Grail captured on the album) and Frank Rosaly, perform next at the LOLA Festival in London, Ontario, this Friday. For more information, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.