Choral Canon

[Cato]

My opinion is mixed on that. It's a beautiful piece, and hearing it in choral timbre is unquestionably lovely. But the composition has a dramatic arc which I feel is at odds with the litany repetition of the text.[/b]

That is true: now that you mention it, I realize I have simply listened to it as music, and ignored any textual aspects.   

Perhaps simply a vocalise version would make a better choral piece.

[Ataraxia]

All of this is great music, but cor, what a huge blindspot! You're all talking exclusively about chorus-plus-orchestra lit, from only a fraction of music history. Cultural illiterates! ; )

As yet only a short corrective list:

Machaut, Messe de Nostre Dame
Byrd, Mass for five voices
Tallis, Spem in alium
Palestrina, Missa Papae Marcelli
de Victoria, Misa O magnum misterium
Rakhmaninov, All-Night Vigil, Op.37
Vaughan Williams, Mass in g minor

At the moment I'm interested in choral music with voice only. Thanks for this list. I'll have to check at home to see how much of it I already possess.

[TheGSMoeller]

At the moment I'm interested in choral music with voice only. Thanks for this list. I'll have to check at home to see how much of it I already possess.

Karl created a great list there.

If you find yourself interested in more 20th Century choral music, then give Poulenc a try, I have four discs devoted to his choral music and they are wonderful. Both sacred and secular.

[Ataraxia]

Karl created a great list there.

If you find yourself interested in more 20th Century choral music, then give Poulenc a try, I have four discs devoted to his choral music and they are wonderful. Both sacred and secular.

Thanks much!

[Tsaraslondon]

a few not mentioned yet (unless I missed them)

Messiaen: Trois Petites Liturgies de la Presence Divine
MacMillan: Seven Last Words of the Cross
Durufle: Requiem
Part: Passio
Rossini: Stabat Mater

[Papy Oli]

A couple more :

Arvo Part - Kanon Pokajanen
Arvo Part - Summa
Arvo Part - Berliner Messe
Bruckner - Motets
Tallis - Salve Intemarata
Allegri - Miserere
Hildegard Von Bingen - Heavenly revelations
Josquin Desprez - Motets
Dunstable - Motets
Leonin et Perotin - Sacred Music de Notre-Dame
Obrecht - Missa Caput, Salve Regina
Pergolesi - Stabat Mater
Schutz - Psalmen Davids

[Ataraxia]

  Thanks.

[zamyrabyrd]

I thought this was about vocal "canon"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl-fXIgiITQ
☆ Stella Voci ☆ sings Canon in D

ZB

[Karl Henning]

Thought I should find a more suitable thread for this discussion:

I picked up a disc of his [Jn Rutter's] work on Naxos last year at one of the various label sales, and I have to say that I quite enjoy it. I don't think it is boilerplate, though it has clear references (in my mind anyway) to other composers (Walton immediately comes to mind in some of it, for example). But it is fashionable to dislike him, Jenkins, and a few others. I guess this is not the right place for this discussion exactly, but I feel there are a number of people (not referencing anyone here) who simply jump on the bandwagon of vitriol without really trying to understand the music. I'll also be the first to admit, that there can be a certain 'sameness' to the sound that I find wearying sometimes (particularly in the choral sound). As a result, I tend to listen to pieces at a time (rather than the whole disc).

EDIT: HEre, for example, is a piece I quite like and can listen to repeatedly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlKNQBOeQqQ

I don't mind that his style draws from tradition (I had better not mind, as practically any of my own choral work refer to one tradition or another). I should also say (and I shall soon mash that link you've kindly offered, in hopes) that I've not actually heard a piece of his which I would call, simply, excellent; but that a couple of friends who compose very well for choir have given me the opinion that they know of a few works which stand well above the mass of, so to speak, competent samey-ness.

[mc ukrneal]

Thought I should find a more suitable thread for this discussion:

I don't mind that his style draws from tradition (I had better not mind, as practically any of my own choral work refer to one tradition or another). I should also say (and I shall soon mash that link you've kindly offered, in hopes) that I've not actually heard a piece of his which I would call, simply, excellent; but that a couple of friends who compose very well for choir have given me the opinion that they know of a few works which stand well above the mass of, so to speak, competent samey-ness.

It's from his Magnificat: Esurientes (if I spelled that right). I think I remember hearing a piece of his at the recent Royal wedding (well, relatively recent!) that he composed. I remember thinking it quite nice for the occassion, but not sure all this time later if it is something that will live on or not. I'll have to take a looksie when I get the chance.

[Karl Henning]

At rehearsal with Paul's choir, just sang through Stravinsky's Bogoroditse Devo. Great little piece.