THERE cannot have been many, if any, concerts in York that were entirely devoted to music by women composers. Like A Fish Needs A Bicycle, Cantores' gallant venture into this virgin territory, proved conclusively that the long wait had been our loss.

Surprisingly, there was nothing from Hildegard of Bingen, but another nun - the 17th-century Milanese Chiara Cozzolani - gave us two juicy motets.

The first, Quid Miseri, was a soothing dialogue between the Virgin Mary - beautifully sung here - and The Faithful. Its dancing Alleluias were especially effective.

Trios by a better-known name, Fanny Mendelssohn, proved equally satisfying. Three Echoes, all commenting on nature, luxuriated in romantic harmony that evoked warmth and bird-song, just the ticket on a chilly night.

Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) had a tasty way with harmony, too, traditional on the surface but laced with alluring twists. Her Ave Maria was typical. Come, O Come My Life's Delight had strong Elizabethan undertones.

Of the strong modern phalanx of British composers, Judith Weir has long been a leader. She, too, found Elizabethan inspiration in Love Bade Me Welcome, and evoked early plainsong for Drop Down, Ye Heavens. Both were sung with a sure sense of style.

So were Roxanna Panufnik's Deus, Deus Meus and her witty Laughing Song. Kerry Andrew's O Lux beata Trinitas revealed a steady grasp of choral techniques that also fell easily on the ear. Diana Clough injected two pleasing flute interludes into this inspiring evening.

Updated: 09:24 Monday, March 07, 2005