… and …
Arvo PÄRT (b.1953)
Drei Hirtenkinder [1:26]
Kleine Litanei [5:20]
Virgencita [6:32]
Habitare fratres in unum [2:54]
Alleluia tropus [4:03]
And I heard a voice… [5:20]
Caroline SHAW (b.1982)
and the swallow [3:37]
Julia WOLFE (b.1958)
Guard my tongue [7:32]
Anon - Laude di Cortona
Venite a laudare [3:24]
Cristo e nato [6:18]
Laude novella sia cantata [4:18]
Oi me, lasso, è freddo lo mio core [4:05]
Altissima luce [3:29]
Sia laudato San Francesco [3:13]
Ars Nova Copenhagen/Paul Hillier
rec. 26-27 January, 24 June 2019 and 8 January 2020, Garnisonskirken, Copenhagen.
NAXOS 8.574281 [62:48]
Six short choral pieces by Arvo Pärt are interspersed with six sacred songs from the 13th century manuscript unearthed at the Umbrian hill-town of Cortona in 1876 and arranged by Paul Hillier, who directs compelling performances of them all with his Danish Ars Nova choir.
The two sets of pieces are perfectly complementary; the vigour and energy of the 13th century laude are tempered by the gentle, meditative quality of the Pärt miniatures. All written since 2008, when Pärt had -if not moved on from - then certainly modified his “tintinnabuli” style, these exude calmness and tranquillity, and with their smooth, beautifully blended tone, the dozen or so voices of Ars Nova Copenhagen, produce gorgeously atmospheric and introspective performances of all six. Those expecting to hear Arvo Pärt in his classic tintinnabuli style need not worry, however, for Julia Wolfe’s setting of words from Psalm 34, Guard my tongue, has all the character of a tintinnabuli work, and, on top of that, is a most ingenious and effective setting of the words, leaving the word “evil” hanging in the air until the centre-point of the piece, where it forms the climax by being reiterated almost obsessively; a hugely impressive work which is delivered with mesmerizing intensity by these singers. The other work which is neither by Arvo Pärt nor from the Laude di Cortana, is that which, I assume, gives the album its title, and the swallow, by Caroline Shaw. Luminous and ethereal, this setting of words from Psalm 84 makes for a captivating opener to this programme, and also subconsciously creates a link with the town of Cortana to where St Francis of Assisi was known to have visited and preached to the populace.
One of the special features of these performances under Paul Hillier, is the singers’ adaptability not only to move between two very different stylistic worlds, but to create a vocal tone which seems to get completely into the spirit of the music. While the pieces by Shaw and Wolfe exude luminosity, and those by Pärt create a warmth and richness of tone which perfectly evokes the comforting character of these songs, Ars Nova Copenhagen takes on an open-throated, folksy style for the 13th century songs, which seems ideal to the concept, raise by the booklet note (tiny in content and print, making it virtually impossible to read) that these were sung by members of the Franciscan community as they processed through the streets of Cortana, using a “populist” style of music to appeal to the ordinary people of the town and neighbouring countryside. And, as a footnote, while sung texts are included in the booklet (for those equipped with a high-power magnifying lens) there is really no need for them; the singers’ diction is incredibly clear.
Marc Rochester
