Search - Czech Anonymous, Guillaume Dufay, Pierre de la Rue :: Officium

Impossible to ignore

Mark Swinton | 01/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dr John Potter, in his liner note, states that he and the others featured on this disc "don't have a name" for this potent combination of Renaissance sacred music and jazz improvisation on saxophone. He might have called it "the music of all time"- which would not, in my view, be as presumptious as it sounds. This music is rivetting- it can calm shattered nerves, or it can fire your imagination and send you into new heights of meditative thought. My personal liking for this disc is that the producers included three recordings of the same work, "Parce Mihi" by Morales. Two of these feature saxophone (to show that no two performances are the same) and 'bookend' the disc; the other is placed more or less centrally in the programme and omits the saxophone in case you would prefer to hear the work as originally intended. This was a most thoughtful gesture- but then again, the whole disc oozes thoughtfulness. Essential listening in my honest opinion."

BEAUTIFUL, REVERENT AND CELEBRATORY

Larry L. Looney | Austin, Texas USA | 08/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Purists might have some problems with this recoding -- as some of the other reviews reflect. Some of the pieces are so ancient that authors and dates are unknown, chants that could be called Gregorian -- but, as the notes by Hilliard countertenor David Jones point out, 'Before Gregory and Charlemagne got their bureaucratic hands on them, these ancient songs had lives of their own.' Others date from the 12th to 15th centuries. All were written to exalt the faith felt by their authors, to share the joys and hope they felt in their hearts as sound -- and that spirit flows through this release.'



Recorded in the Monastery of St. Gerold, which adds its own ambience to the project, these four fine vocalists along with Jan Garbarek -- one of the most innovative musicians that modern Europe has produced -- let the music flow through them and into the ears and souls of the listener. Garbarek's saxophone seamlessly integrates itself as an added voice -- a testament to the 'vocal' style of playing that has long distinguished his work.



There is no name for this music -- another fact pointed out by Potter in his notes -- and that's something that frees it from preconceptions and expectations. I strongly recommend to the potential listener to enter into this experience with as open a mind as possible -- there's a world of beauty, reverence and emotion waiting on this disc. It would be a shame to allow what might seem an odd combination of musicians and styles to colour its absorption.



Garbarek has ventured outside of the 'jazz' realm on other occasions -- notably, he has explored his Norwegian heritage by delving into traditional music (check out his amazing album ROSENSFOLE, with singer Agnes Buen Garnas). The Hilliard Ensemble has made many fine recordings, presenting music from a broad range of time and style and form. The two met recorded together again in 1998, producing the album MNEMOSYNE -- another beautiful, timeless work."

Pleasing.

C. David LaRoche | Halifax, N.S. | 08/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This, unlike other reviewers, is NOT medieval musak. Two complete apexes of musical history - The ultra-modern Saxaphone (played by the always lyrical Jan Garbarek) and a quartet of what essentially is gregorian chant from the first eves of music - are united here in an experiment that is surprisingly successful.This is a simply marvelous CD. It is perfect meditation music; it is both relaxing and exciting at once. Not only does the Hillard Ensemble perform gregorian-style chant wonderfully, but Garbarek's saxophone achieves moments of pure bliss. He often sits out, or waits for just the right moment to build out of nothing into a shimmering climax, then fades back into the ancient polyphony. This is beautiful, intellectual music. Garbarek is the perfect choice to accompany what would under normal circumstances simply be another well-done gregorian chant album; his tone is eerie, mysterious, and deeply classical, never breaking the mood or tension. I recommend this album to anyone willing to listen."