"[1] The score incorporates a number of sacred texts from English, Hebrew, Ancient Greek, and Latin, in addition to calling on the vocalists to perform audible breathing, whispering, and murmuring.
[1] The symphony has a duration of roughly an hour in performance and is cast in three movements, whose titles correspond, respectively, to wind, water, and fire: The work is scored for chamber choir, chorus, and a large orchestra consisting of two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons (2nd doubling contrabassoon), four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, two percussionists, harp, piano, and strings.
Reviewing the world premiere, Rowena Smith of The Guardian said of the symphony, "It's heady stuff brimming with ideas, the result of what MacMillan describes as a compositional process led by 'stream of consciousness'."
"[3] Richard Fairman of the Financial Times wrote, "There is a palpable sense of MacMillan venturing into untried areas, as he aims to give voice to the mystery of the Holy Spirit.
"[4] Despite praising many elements of the symphony, Ken Walton of The Scotsman wrote, "No mistaking the scorching emotional heat that roused this audience instantly to its feet.