{"id":5863,"date":"2020-02-20T09:21:07","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T09:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.larkreviews.co.uk\/?p=5863"},"modified":"2020-02-20T09:50:24","modified_gmt":"2020-02-20T09:50:24","slug":"cdsdvds-february-2020-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/?p=5863","title":{"rendered":"CDs\/DVDs February 2020 (2)"},"content":{"rendered":"
IN NO STRANGE LAND \u2013 CHORAL MUSIC BY MARTIN BUSSEY<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Sonoro, Michael Higgins, organ, Neil Ferris, conductor<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
RESONUS RES10251 70\u201929<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

This is a beautiful CD collecting a range of sacred choral music by this former Kings College, Cambridge Choral Scholar who has been active in a range of vocal musical activity for many years. Texts range from the Song of the Nuns of Chester<\/em> and Robert Southwell\u2019s The Burning Babe <\/em>to Jesu, pro me perforates <\/em>(a Latin translation of Toplady\u2019s Rock of Ages<\/em>) and Oscar Wilde\u2019s version of Ave Maria<\/em>. As with previous recordings from Sonoro sound quality and expression is superb.<\/p>\n

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O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD \u2013 CHORAL WORKS BY THOMAS TOMKINS<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
The Choir of HM Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Rufus Frowde, organ, Carl Jackson, conductor<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
RESONUS RES10253 74\u201925<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

This collection sensitively presents a lovely selection of music by this former Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and Composer of the King\u2019s Musick in an appropriate setting by a very appropriate choir. Alongside two sets of Preces & Responses<\/em> and Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis<\/em> there are verse-anthems, four part psalms and organ pieces.<\/p>\n

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PALESTRINA LAMENTATIONS- BOOK 2<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Cinquecento Rennaisance Vokal<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
HYPERION CDA68284\u00a0 72\u201911<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

This music has been with us for a long time and yet here it comes fresh out of the speakers. From Palestrina\u2019s prolific and masterful work here are settings for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.<\/p>\n

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SCHUTZ- THE CHRISTMAS STORY<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Yale Schola Cantorum and instrumentalists, David Hill, conductor<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
HYPERION CDA68315 71\u201913<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

The text of the accompanying booklet describes the working situation of Schutz as in some ways similar to that of JS Bach a century later. Alongside what is probably his most enduring and celebrated work there are also here shorter German and Latin Christmas settings including a (not just for Christmas!) Ave Maria<\/em> and Magnificat. <\/em><\/p>\n

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GOTTFRIED AUGUST HOMILIUS \u2013 SIEHE, DER HERR KOMMT \u2013 CHRISTMAS & ADVENT CANTATAS<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Hanna Herfurtner, sop, Franziska Gottwald, alto, Georg Poplutz, tenor, Mauro Borgioni, bass<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Kolner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
CPO 555 278-2 66\u201913<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

It is interesting that this repertoire follows on chronologically with the Protestant German repertoire of the CD above. This music is far less familiar by far and it is good to see this material presented in this way. A good addition to the recorded Christmas repertoire.<\/p>\n

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JOHANN PACHELBEL \u2013 COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS III<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Michael Belotti, organ of St Walpurgis, Grossengottern<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Christian Schmidt, organs of Klosterkirche, Rheinau & St Cyriakus, Duderstadt<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
James David Christie, organ of Crucis-Kirche, Erfut<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
CPO\u00a0777 558-2 (3 SACD) 189\u201934<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

This latest volume of the thorough exploration of the complete keyboard music of Pachelbel concentrates on liturgical organ music. The works here are divided over three disks each with a different organist and organ(s) and dividing them into works derived from Passion hymns, Psalms and Chorale partitas. Each historic organ is chosen to be appropriate to the particular material and the organists are clearly at home with their repertoire and setting. These discs can be played on a standard CD but are also in SACD format.<\/p>\n

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GIOVANNI BATTISTA SAMMARTINI \u2013 HARPSICHORD SONATAS<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Simonetta Heger, harpsichord (Mascheroni, after Christian Vater, Hannover 1720)<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
DYNAMIC CDS7841 62\u201936<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

There seems to be a resurgence of interest in harpsichord music of late with many recordings of works only available in manuscript or in obscure printed editions being brought to the fore. As with many early keyboard composers there is much to entrance the ear in terms of tonality and rhythm as well as often virtuosic technique. Simonetta Heger does a good job here to introduce us to these 18 sonatas from a prolific but less remembered composer.<\/p>\n

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MALCYS & VASKS – BALTIC INSPIRATION \u2013 PIANO QUARTETS<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Ippolitov-Ivanov Piano Quartet<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Naxos 8.574073\u00a0 66\u201949<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

This was a very surprising disk. I was immediately drawn into this music so satisfyingly played by the Quartet. The Latvian & Lithuanian composers were both unknown to me. All the music dates from the turn of the last century. Peteris Vasks\u2019 Piano Quartet <\/em>(2001) balances beautifully the three separate descriptive pieces by Arvydas Malcys Blackthorn Eyes <\/em>(1999-2004), Hyacinth of the Snowfields <\/em>(2012) and Milky Way <\/em>(2002-12) which arranged together here have the effect of another piano quartet.<\/p>\n

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HER VOICE \u2013 PIANO TRIOS BY FARRENC, BEACH & CLARKE<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Neave Trio<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
CHANDOS CHAN 20139 72\u201904<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Three piano trios, chronologically sequenced, each composed by a female composer, whose names we thankfully now know and respect. Excellent music, \u00a0which deserves to be better known, expertly played. Whilst continuing to welcome such releases let us all hope and work for the time when it is no longer necessary to programme a CD by the gender of the composers in order to right a wrong that still persists.<\/p>\n

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BLISS \u2013 MARY OF MAGDALA; THE ENCHANTRESS;<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
MEDITATIONS ON A THEME BY JOHN BLOW<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Dame Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano, James Platt, bass<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Andrew Davis, conductor<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
CHANDOS CHSA 5242 76\u201958<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Here are three contrasting works of Bliss\u2019 later years. The two vocal pieces set Greek pastoral poetry and words from St John\u2019s Gospel. The theme in question is Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd<\/em>. The programming of these three pieces makes for a satisfying experience, highlighting the inventiveness and flexibility of Bliss, still an underappreciated composer.<\/p>\n

SP<\/strong><\/p>\n

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IN NO STRANGE LAND \u2013 CHORAL MUSIC BY MARTIN BUSSEY Sonoro, Michael Higgins, organ, Neil Ferris, conductor RESONUS RES10251 70\u201929 This is a beautiful CD collecting a range of sacred choral music by this former Kings College, Cambridge Choral Scholar … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5863"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5863"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5867,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5863\/revisions\/5867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}