Classical Editor: Rob Barnett                               Music Webmaster Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com


Enchanting Music
Rued LANGGAARD

Three Songs for Choir
Vagn HOLMBOE
Motet, 'I know a flower so lovely and brave' Speravi in Domino
Erik HAUMANN
The day the cherry trees blossomed

Coro Misto director Søren Birch
Danacord DACOCD 546 (57.50 minutes)
Crotchet     Amazon UK  

Langgaard, Holmboe and Haumann are hardly household names, but they do represent a sure line of tradition which lies at the heart of Danish music. The choral works featured here reflect the importance of such music in Denmark, and the technical assurance of both the music and the performances - by the chamber choir Coro Misto - are further reflections if that. There is no question that the music on this disc sounds well, for it is beautifully recorded in an ample and clear acoustic, and the performers are of the hghest calibre, sensitively directed by Søren Birch. The music will surely bring rewards to the casual as well as the sophisticated listener, with the phrasing and the balancing of textures sounding exemplary. How, then, to progress from being a casual listener to being a sophisticated listener? This disc won't help much in that regard, alas. Given the ability of the Danes when it comes to speaking English, it is extraordinarily disappointing that the booklet contains the texts only in Danish. Who makes these decisions?

Terry Barfoot

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