The place of the chorale in modern music

I am enamored with the chorale. I love Bach's settings of the Lutheran hymns, I love 19th-century/early 20th century French chorale writing, I love that particular, simple, directly emotional quality.

It is for this reason that I am fascinated by the use of chorale-like writing in modern music: for me, it serves as a way to return the long-breathed line so common in the common-pratice era to the often pointillistic, agitato music I am in the habit of writing. What, if any, is its significance to others?

In addition, post some of your favorite usages of chorale-like textures in modern music.

Mine:

Donatoni's Poll, for chamber ensemble:

Donatoni was in the habit of writing small, rudimentary gestures that relentlessly continue and eventually form the skeleton of a work, much like the short, staccato scalar figures here. But around :59, he interrupts everything - only briefly - with a craggy, limping chorale that I think is incredibly gorgeous.

Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2, Movement II: http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Stacked fifths in the strings, most beautiful thing ever.

No greater study in harmony can be had except from Bach's 371 chorales. I'm studying them myself and they're an amazing resource that I think should be required of every music student ever. (That, along with the Well-Tempered Clavier, of course.)

I think it'd be interesting to see more dissonant chorale writings in vocal music. Voices tend to get really rich with them. I might see if I can find any.. any suggestions?

In danger of repeating myself, but the quotation of the Bach Chorale "Es ist genug!" in Berg violin concerto is awesome.

On a related note (the berg concerto baing a sort of Requiem for Alma Mahlers daughter) the Durufle Requiem is among my favourites. I love how he is able to use gregorian plainchant as thematic material. Listen for example to the Kyrie, where slow trombone notes play the gregorian Kyrie melody as a true cantus firmus.