Search - Guy Johnston, Choir of King's College - Cambridge :: Ikos - Choral Music by Gorecki, Tavener, Pärt - interleaved by Plainchant

Ikos - Choral Music by Gorecki, Tavener, Pärt - interleaved by Plainchant
Guy Johnston, Choir of King's College - Cambridge
Ikos - Choral Music by Gorecki, Tavener, Pärt - interleaved by Plainchant
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

This CD intersperses, to wonderful effect, famous and beautifully sung plainchant melodies such as "Ave Maris Stella" and "Alma Redemptoris Mater" with sacred music by three well-known New Mystic composers. Górecki...  more »

     
?

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Guy Johnston, Choir of King's College - Cambridge
Title: Ikos - Choral Music by Gorecki, Tavener, Pärt - interleaved by Plainchant
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Angel Records
Release Date: 1/17/1995
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Early Music
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 724355509628

Synopsis

Amazon.com
This CD intersperses, to wonderful effect, famous and beautifully sung plainchant melodies such as "Ave Maris Stella" and "Alma Redemptoris Mater" with sacred music by three well-known New Mystic composers. Górecki's "Totus Tuus," with its constant repetition of "Maria", may get tiresome; but "Amen" (setting only the one word) is gripping throughout. Pärt is represented by his austere, oddly tense "Magnificat" and an unusually warm setting of the Beatitudes, which ends with a surprisingly florid organ solo. Tavener's giddy "Magnificat" and serene "Nunc Dimittis" are luminous; his "Funeral Ikos" sets an extraordinary Orthodox funeral text to a plain, heartbreaking melody. The gorgeous singing of the King's choir under Stephen Cleobury outshines even that of Sir David Willcocks's glory days. --Matthew Westphal

Similar CDs


Similarly Requested CDs

 

CD Reviews

Echoes of Musical History in Contemporary Settings
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 09/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once again Stephen Cleobury and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge bring intelligence and scholarship along with excellent performances to the recorded literature. This enchanting survey of Gregorian chant/plainsong includes not only superb examples of this vocal form, it also brings to our contemporary ears the works of three important composers who are deeply moved and inspired by this most pure form of singing.



Like turning leaves of a book, each plainsong is followed by a work by one of the three featured composers writing today - Henryk Gorecki, Arvo Pärt, and John Tavener. The comparisons are not only interesting, they are also mutually enhancing. And this is a chance to understand the writing styles of Gorecki, Pärt and Tavener for those not familiar with their works. The choral singing (and occasional use of the organ) is of the highest order and the acoustic of King's College chapel makes this listening experience mysterious and elegant. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, September 05"