Search - Jirasek, Von Bingen, Part :: Renaissance of Humanity

Beautiful music

Wyote | Seoul | 08/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not an expert in music, but I will tell you what I know about this CD. First, it is very beautiful and striking. It opens with the "world premiere recording" of Jirasek's Missa Propria, a mass evoking the depression of communism and subtle hints of hope in modern fashion. Emphasizing again that my judgement isn't too reliable, I'd describe it as Shostakovich meets Stravinsky. Arvo Part's "Variations for the healing of Arinushka" is a piano piece performed by Kalle Randalu, supposedly demonstrating more of "a concern for spiritual awakening" than is typical of minimalists. VOX performs a synthesized "translation" of Hildegard von Bingen's "O Euchari." This is curious, and not bad. Jirasek's "Katharsis" follows, and I don't think it is very notable. Two incredibly beautiful medieval Georgian liturgical hymns performed by Ensemble Georgika may be the highlight of the CD. Estonian composer Rene Espere's "Trivium" concludes the CD with another emotional and basically minimalist piece. I recommend this stew of "mystical music" primarily because it is diverse and unique. "Missa Propria" and the Georgian hymns alone make it worthwhile, and the other pieces make it even more interesting. I suspect more high-brow Eastern European New Age music will come with capitalism's development, and probably will not be as good."