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BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
| MUSICA SACRA
- 1000 YEARS OF SACRED MUSIC CD1 Gregorian Chant 1. Emendemus in melius 3'01 2. Attende Domine 3'30 3. Tibi Domine derelictus est pauper 5'10 4. Iesu, quadragenariae dicator abstinentiae 2'24 5. Audi, benigne Conditor 2'21 6. Vexilla Regis prodeunt 4'01 7. Chants 5'55 8. Christus factus est 3'25 9. Nos autem gloriari oportet 3'03 10. Three Antiphons 3'26 11. Ubi caritas 2'37 12. De lamentatione Ieremiae Prophetae 3'08 13. Tenebrae factae sunt 3'25 14. Ecce lignum crucis 2'19 15. Exsultet iam angelica turba caelorum 10'01 16. Victimae paschali laudes 1'30 17. Salve, feste dies 2'44 Total time: 63'05 Pro Cantione Antiqua, James O'Donnell CD2 Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) From The Hildegard Liederband 1. Cum processit factura (De sancta Maria. Antiphona No. 8) 2'50 2. Cum erubuerint infelices (De sancta Maria. Antiphona No. 9) 1'52 3. O frondens virgo (De sancta Maria. Antiphona No. 10) 1'40 4. Ave, generosa, gloriosa (De sancta Maria. Hymnus No. 12) 4'54 5. O virga ac diadema purpurae regis (De sancta Maria. Sequentia No. 13) 7'04 6. Caritas abundat (De Spiritu Sancto. Antiphona No. 16) 1'42 7. O pastor animarum (Ad Christum. Antiphona No. 61) 1'20 8. O quam preciosa est (De sancta Maria. Responsorium No. 63) 3'56 9. Kyrie (No. 69) 2'01 From Ordo Virtutum 10. Patriarchae et Prophetae 2'06 11. Castitas 1'38 12. Virtutes 0'57 Gregorian Chant 13. Antiphona ad Magnificat-Magnificat-Antiphona ad Benedictus-Hildegardis prophetissa 4'17 14. In I Vesperis-Hymnus ex Officio in hon. S. Hildegardis 2'53 Total time: 40'36 Schola der Benediktinerinnenabtei St. Hildegard Rüdesheim-Eibingen Leitung: M. Immaculata Ritscher OSB CD3 Lamentations 1. GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI PALESTRINA: Stabat Mater 11'16 2. TOMAS LUIS DE VICTORIA: O vos omnes 2'32 3. CARLO GESUALDO: O vos omnes 2'56 4. THOMAS TALLIS: Lamentations of Jeremiah 7'29 5. WILLIAM BYRD: Civitas sancti tui 4'21 6. GEORGE KIRBYE: Vox in Rama 4'32 7. ROBERT RAMSEY: How are the mighty fallen 7'41 8. THOMAS WEELKES: When David heard /td> 4'27 9. JOSQUIN DES PREZ: Absalon fili mi 3'51 10. THOMAS TOMKINS: When David heard 4'40 11. JOSQUIN DES PREZ: La Déploration de Johannes Ockeghem 4'47 12. GREGORIO ALLEGRI: Miserere 12'38 Total time: 71'16 The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge Timothy Brown, conductor CD4 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Missa l'homme armé Missa assumpta est maria Total time: 74'15 Pro Cantione Antiqua Counter tenors: Charles Brett, Timothy Penrose, Ashley Stafford Tenors: Wynford Evans, James Griffett, Ian Partridge Basses: Michael George, Gordon Jones, Christopher Keyte, Stephen Roberts Mark Brown, conductor CD5 C. Monteverdi (1567-1643) Vespro Della Beata Vergine (I) Total time: 78'19 Monika Mauch, Judith Decker: soprano Holger Speck, Tobias Hiller: tenor; Adolph Seidel: bass Motettenchor Pforzheim; L'arpa festante MÜnchen (Period instruments) Prof. Rolf Schweizer, conductor |
What can they be thinking at Brilliant Classics? Releasing a 25-CD set of sacred music, including some of the greatest works ever written, at such a low price! At first glance, you might be hesitant to buy such a set - such a mixture of periods, composers and performers, and, at that price, the first reaction is that it is probably not worth it.
Well, it is worth it, and how! While this set might not appeal to those who already have a good collection of sacred music, it is perfect for listeners who want to discover some of the many gems in this genre. Beginning with the oldest known form - Gregorian chant - and ending with works by 20th century composers, such as Arvo Pärt, this set has a great deal of appeal.
It would take too much time to examine every disc in this set, but here are some of those that stand out.
Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater is a very moving work from the 28th century. This sacred work, which incorporates many aspects of operatic music, was commissioned by a group of Neapolitan noblemen. It is thought that it was meant to replace Alessandro Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, a similar work, composed in an older style. Pergolesi, in this work, combined the strict Neapolitan church style with the more melodic aspects of then modern opera, resulting in a work of unique emotional effect.
Soprano Angharad Gruffydd Jones has an intriguing voice. With an airy sound, almost like a boy soprano, it seems lightweight at first, but grows on this listener. It becomes a tantalizing voice, one that almost defies description, and carries this entire work. Counter-tenor Lawrence Zazzo is also very good, and their two voices marry perfectly during the duos.
The recording of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is not one of the best, but is certainly an acceptable recording. Evangelist Rogers Covey-Crump is not totally convincing - it is difficult to measure up to the benchmark of the magnificent Peter Schreier, who is undoubtedly the perfect voice for the part (or, at least, whose voice has become more or less identified with it). His diction sounds a bit unsteady, and his voice seems just a bit too laid back for this central part.
Alto Michael Chance has a fine voice, but uses a bit too much vibrato at times, which tends to distract from the melody calling attention to itself. Yet his vibrato is unequal - at times, it is intrusive, and other times (even within the same aria) it is subtle.
Curiously, Emma Kirkby, who does not often overuse vibrato, does so here. Her voice is wonderful, as usual, but one may question this vibrato which tends to stand out. However, in the heart-rending aria Erbame dich for soprano and violin obbligato, she is more restrained, and is truly magnificent. Yet, it is hard to compare her version to the near-perfect performance by René Jacobs on the Gustav Leonhardt recording of 1989, or Robin Blaze's crystalline performance on the Maasaki Suzuki recording. (Or even alto Michael Chance, present on this recording, who was acclaimed for his performance of this aria in the recent recording by John Eliot Gardiner.)
The Bach B Minor Mass features alto James Bowman, and is another worthy recording. The Mozart requiem is a good performance, which Brilliant Classics has included in its complete Mozart set. The Fauré requiem is quite good, with the Holland Boys Choir giving a fine performance, and soloists Maja Roodveldt and Bas Ramselaar are very good, though Ramselaar sounds more like he is singing in Italian than French.
When you look at all the music you
get - in good to excellent recordings - from Bach to Brahms, from Mozart
to Verdi, you will not be disappointed by this set. If you are a true
fan of this music, you will certainly find some works that are not among
the best, but this kind of set is more to become familiar with these great
works than to present the best recordings with the top performers. Kudos
again to Brilliant Classics for bringing quality recordings to listeners
at such low prices.
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| CD6 H. Purcell (1659-1695) Monteverdi (II) Henry Purcell Sacred music Te Deum 11'36 Jubilate Deo 7'12 Me Beloved spake 9'35 O God, Thou art my God 3'27 Lord, how long wilt Thou be angry 3'16 Remember not, Lord, our offences 2'53 Hear my prayer, O Lord 2'06 Funeral Sentences For Queen Mary Total time: 65'37 The Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Timothy Brown Andrew Manze, Marshall Marcus: violins Jan Schlapp: viola; Jenny Ward-Clarke: bass violin Liz Kenny, William Carter: theorbo Jonathan Brown: organ Baroque Brass of London CD7 Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) Stabat Mater Salve Regina in C minor Total time: 48'24 Angharad Gruffydd Jones, soprano Lawrence Zazzo, counter tenor Julia Bishop, Joanna Parker, violin Peter Whiskin, viola Joanna Levine, cello Mark Levy, violone Timothy Brown, organ/director CD8 George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Messiah (I) Total time: 70'53 Jennifer Smith, soprano Helen Kucharek, soprano Linda Finnie, mezzo soprano Neil Mackie, tenor Rodney Macann, bass The Choir & Orchestra of Pro Christe Timothy Dean, conductor. CD9 George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Messiah (II) Total time: 72'18 Jennifer Smith, soprano Helen Kucharek, soprano Linda Finnie, mezzo soprano Neil Mackie, tenor Rodney Macann, bass The Choir & Orchestra of Pro Christe Timothy Dean, conductor. CD10 Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria in D major RV589 Antonio Caldara: Stabat Mater Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat, in D major BWV 243 Total time: 72'22 Lynda Russell, soprano I Gillian Fisher, soprano II Alison Browner, Caroline Trevor: alto Ian Partridge, tenor Michael George, bass The Sixteen Choir & Orchestra, Harry Christophers CD11 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Matthäus Passion (I) Total time: 67.14 Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor (Evangelist); Michael George, bass (Jesus) Emma Kirkby, soprano; Michael Chance, alto; Martyn Hill, tenor; David Thomas, bass The Choir of King's College, Cambridge The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge (Soprano in ripieno) The Brandenburg Consort, (Leader: Roy Goodman) Stephen Cleobury, conductor CD12 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Matthäus Passion (II) Total time: 40.52 Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor (Evangelist); Michael George, bass (Jesus) Emma Kirkby, soprano; Michael Chance, alto; Martyn Hill, tenor; David Thomas, bass The Choir of King's College, Cambridge The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge (Soprano in ripieno) The Brandenburg Consort, (Leader: Roy Goodman) Stephen Cleobury, conductor CD13 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Matthäus Passion (III) Total time: 52.56 Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor (Evangelist); Michael George, bass (Jesus) Emma Kirkby, soprano; Michael Chance, alto; Martyn Hill, tenor; David Thomas, bass The Choir of King's College, Cambridge The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge (Soprano in ripieno) The Brandenburg Consort, (Leader: Roy Goodman) Stephen Cleobury, conductor CD14 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Mass in B minor BWV 232 (I) Total time: 51'25 Catherine Dubosc, soprano I; Catherine Denley, soprano II James Bowman, alto; John Mark Ainsley, tenor Michael George, bass The Sixteen Choir & Orchestra, Harry Christophers CD15 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Mass in B minor BWV 232 (II) Total time: 54'59 Catherine Dubosc, soprano I; Catherine Denley, soprano II James Bowman, alto; John Mark Ainsley, tenor Michael George, bass The Sixteen Choir & Orchestra, Harry Christophers Licensed from Collins Classics, a division of Pinnacle Entertainment UK. |
CD16 CD17 BUY NOW AmazonUK £65 |
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BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99757
(approx. 25 hours)