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Post by Slinger on Sept 30, 2017 0:00:41 GMT
The Deer's Cry Harry Christophers & The Sixteen COR16140  William Byrd (c.1540-1623)
1. Diliges Dominum | Thomas Tallis (c.1505-85) / Byrd
8. Miserere nostri | | 2. Christe qui lux es et dies | 9. When Jesus went | Arvo Pärt (b.1935)
3. The Deer’s Cry | William Byrd
10. O lux beata Trinitas | William Byrd
4. Emendemus in melius | Arvo Pärt
11. Nunc dimittis | Arvo Pärt
5. The Woman with the Alabaster Box | William Byrd
12. Laetentur coeli | William Byrd
6. Miserere mihi, Domine | 13. Tribue, Domine | | 7. Ad Dominum cum tribularer |
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I came to this album in quite a round about way. I'm a longtime fan of The Sixteen but not such a great fan of "contemporary" classical music. So for ages I pretty much ignored this album. Then I discovered that I actually liked a lot of Arvo Pärt's music so took another look at this and realised that only part (sorry) of the album was devoted to Arvo. To save me blathering on, here's the blurb from the Coro website... Whilst coming from very different eras, William Byrd and Arvo Pärt are both considered masters of sacred music despite having faced considerable persecution for their work. This programme presents six of William Byrd’s works from the Cantiones Sacrae including the monumental Tribue, Domine, and the mighty eight-voice motet Ad Dominum cum tribularer. The three works by Arvo Pärt speak in his unmistakable voice, with its unique blend of ancient and modern, and include his mesmerising Nunc dimittis which is crafted in his bell-like ‘tinitinnabuli’ style. I have no idea why they fail to mention the two superb Tallis pieces on the album. If you think you hate contemporary classical, investigate Arvo Pärt, and not just his choral music either. He does symphonies too, and a cello concerto amongst other things. Unfortunately the cello concerto starts out with what sounds like a couple of pianos falling down a metal staircase followd by an explosion in a cutlery factory. The second movement is quite musical. Unfortunately it's only 32 seconds long. WOW! It wasn't Mahler and it didn't have the Cello in a starring role! It is a beautiful album though, and I hope you like it as much as I do. |
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 30, 2017 17:03:08 GMT
Fabulous Paul, I'm really looking forward to this. An intriguing programme of music!
I'm a massive fan of Renaissance choral music so will be very interesting to hear the Part with it ...
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Post by MartinT on Sept 30, 2017 22:28:11 GMT
This is beautiful. I don't have any Byrd but I'm going to enjoy listening to all of this.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 1, 2017 14:45:52 GMT
The polyphony sounds similar to Tallis and I see that he was a big influence on Byrd's music. It's beautiful, melodic and slightly austere music. Clearly a great renaissance composer! 4/5.
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 2, 2017 14:20:08 GMT
Hats off to Paul Slinger - a beyond stellar choice of album indeed.
It’s the perfect juxtaposition of old and new. Inspired!
The Byrd and Tallis, two of my favourite choral composers are beyond sublime. I’m getting goosebumps as I type listening to the Byrd.
The Part bookends these beautifully and many thanks to Paul for introducing me to these very moving works … Like Paul, I will typically ignore contemporary classical music.
The recording and room ambience sounds superb even on my computer speakers. Now why don’t they have a vinyl release!!! I will be writing to the label responsible for this outrage. Anyway, I will buy a cd for my mother who will also adore this.
Talking of the ladies, I have to say something about the use of female voices in early music. I’m a bit of traditionalist and as a rule *much* prefer the use of boys' and mens' voices for the most authentic reproduction. However, one must say that the female voices are so well trained in The Sixteen and The Tallis Scholars, it is possible to listen and forget … This is of course not the case with many mixed choirs
where you can get some dodgy vibrato and over ‘emoting’ musical phrases.
I was lucky enough to sing lots of Byrd when I was a chorister. My favourite was always ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ - do take a listen with the venerable Tallis Scholars.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 14:36:50 GMT
Going to give this a try now
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 2, 2017 15:43:54 GMT
Be interested to hear your thoughts Paul.
Imagine you are listening in a beautiful church or cathedral with that lovely echo - all the Renaissance choral music was written to glorify God and bring the listener closer to him. I find it very affecting and relaxing with eyes closed.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 15:51:34 GMT
So it has just finished. I am a bit torn, I like choral music, but I found this a tad samey at times for my liking, and I generally struggle to listen to a whole album of choral music. My attention span just can't cope.
However, it was very atmospheric, airy and moving at times, which I liked a lot.
Overall I found liked some of it but not all, so I have chosen 3/5 - Deer, but just worth the price.
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 2, 2017 15:58:30 GMT
Yes Renaissance choral composers often worked in similar structures and you can quickly discover reoccurring themes and musical motifs.
Some could be much more complex than others. I will post more on that subject...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 16:08:23 GMT
I'm certainly interested in knowing more. I am really enjoy my new interest into Classical music and am interested in learning more about what is out there. This Classical Album Choice is a great place for that I find.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 2, 2017 21:18:49 GMT
Tallis - Spem in Alium may be just the thing for you, @pjdowns
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 3, 2017 13:11:09 GMT
OK gents, who is familiar with the boy Gesualdo?
No, he's not a premier league footballer, he was the Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza,
a premier league composer of the Renaissance and one of the most important choral composers of all time.
Let's get the headlines out the way first. He was equally as famous for murdering his mrs and he was for his music.
She was having a fling so he burst into the bedroom with some mates whilst the lovers were in flagrante delicto and promptly despatched the pair of them into eternity with a dash of ultra violence worthy of The Clockwork Orange. Job done.
So that possibly gives us an insight as to why he produced some of the most profoundly beautiful choral polyphony both secular and sacred - was he racked with guilt for what he had done?
It's a question that many have tried to answer by considering the 'agony and ecstasy' of the music. Another big clue is that Gesualdo in later life often asked his servants to beat him, presumably to try and drive out whatever demons he was suffering from. He was clearly not a well man.
On to the music - all you need to know is that Gesualdo produced the most complex polyphony, not only of the age, but for centuries. Having listened to some Byrd and Tallis you might be taken aback by the chromaticism and dissonance.
I would urge you to explore his works further but here is a short introduction to the delights therein - the opening phrases are a masterpiece in their own right.
Here is the English translation -
I die! Languishing, of grief,
and the person who can give me life,
alas, kills me and does not want to give me aid.
O woeful fate!
That the one who can give me life, alas, gives me death!
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Post by Slinger on Oct 3, 2017 13:59:38 GMT
Gesualdo you say? Scored for a string quintet you say? Certainly.  OK, you said none of that, but I did it anyway. This is the first madrigal from Il quarto libro di Madrigali, for string quintet. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 15:26:08 GMT
Tallis - Spem in Alium may be just the thing for you, @pjdowns I'll give it a go  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 14:00:26 GMT
I like that a lot more, Martin. Still a bit too much for me to cope with listening to the whole album in a single sitting, but I much preferred the overall balance of this album.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 4, 2017 20:52:50 GMT
That's a good base to start from, Paul.
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 5, 2017 12:02:48 GMT
Spam in Alium is one of the masterworks of the Renaissance.
Lest we forget - written for 8 choirs of 5 voices each!!
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Post by MartinT on Oct 5, 2017 12:22:51 GMT
Is that American for spam in aluminium? |
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 5, 2017 19:39:31 GMT
Am I allowed to have a LOL there Martin?  |
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