Six favourite 20th Century choral works.

[Mirror Image]

Well, my point was that it would not matter how many works written more recently I had heard and even liked, I chose my favorites based on those works which I have loved for a longer period of time and continue to have significance for me.  I would guess most people did the same.

James comment was just another in a series of put-downs towards the members of this forum by someone who has some kind of psychological need to think himself superior.

Yes and I absolutely agree with your point. James, on the other hand, I never agree with.

[Ken B]

Yes and I absolutely agree with your point. James, on the other hand, I never agree with.

I wish I could make that boast! 

[Mirror Image]

I wish I could make that boast! 

Hah!

[vandermolen]

It certainly is a very special work for me, Jeffrey. What is your preferred performance? I like Hickox's on Chandos.

John, I especially like the old John Pritchard version but I only have that version and one on Naxos.

[Christo]

20th century is just too easy at this point .. and everything usually is weighted toward the 1st half of the century give or take a year. I don't think membership here has assimilated the masters of the 2nd half much.

With "masters of the second half" (haha) you usually refer to a bunch of strict Modernists or avantgardists, and that's your good right - I admire your well-informed contributions in the field. But the historical truth is that the large majority of composers - the same applies to every other art - have chosen to work along other lines, more in touch with tradition at large, the very thing 'strict Modernism' tried to break away from for a while. The experiment failed: the rediscovery of Early Music played a vital role in this "second half" and continues to do so. And tonality (of all kinds) is as back and leading as ever.

Actually many 'second half' composers were mentioned here before. I saw the names of Duruflé, Tippett, Britten, Rautavaara, Schnittke, Milhaud, Poulenc, Penderecki, Martin, Martinů, Wuorinen, Pärt, Sisask, Tormis, Ligeti, to name a few.

Second thoughts. Six other favourites I'm reminded of thanks to you:

Durufle: Requiem

Britten War Requiem

Ravel Daphnis et Chloe

Martinu - The Epic of Gilgamesh

Szymanowski – Stabat Mater
Janacek – Glagolitic Mass

I actually have some mixed feelings about the Mša glagolskaja; heard it live, last autumn, for the first time, and was more than ever aware of its impulsiveness. But the Szymanowski Stabat Mater is an all-time favourite - how could I have missed it!

[North Star]

Janáček: Otče náš
Martinu: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Rakhmaninov: All-night Vigil
Schnittke: Choir Concerto
Shostakovich: Symphony no. 13
Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms

[Karl Henning]

James is just here to help you tossers assimilate the really good music, which he knows best about.  You should be grateful 

[Karl Henning]

Janáček: Otče náš
Martinu: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Rakhmaninov: All-night Vigil
Schnittke: Choir Concerto
Shostakovich: Symphony no. 13
Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms

Ach, you're right, Karlo:  I had neglected Schnittke!

[San Antone]

Ravel Daphnis et Chloe

I had wanted to include this work in my list but felt that the choral parts were not the main focus of the work.  A very good work with vocal chorus and I'm glad it was listed.  Hat tip to EigenUser.

[North Star]

Ach, you're right, Karlo:  I had neglected Schnittke!

I forgot about it myself at first, too. 

[ritter]

My list (today) would look like this:

- Luigi Dallapiccola: Canti di prigionia
- Manuel de Falla / Ernesto Halffter: Atlántida
- Luigi Nono: Il Canto sospeso
- Franz Schmidt: Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln
- Arnold Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
- Igor Stravinsky: Canticum Sacrum
(alphabetically by composer)

[San Antone]

A recording (2000) that has captured my imagination is of several choral works by Pascal Dusapin

[asin]B0000501BF[/asin]

None made my list; but could in a month or so after I've lived with the recording a bit longer.

[Karl Henning]

I forgot about it myself at first, too. 

So, how to adjust, how to adjust . . . .

Here are six of mine:

Wuorinen, Mass for the Restoration of St Luke's
Rautavaara, Vigilia
Stravinsky, Canticum sacrum
Nielsen, Søvnen
Rakhmaninov, All-Night Vigil
Schoenberg, Gurrelieder

The Nielsen is a comparatively minor work, but I do not wish to cut it loose.

The Rautavaara is arguably a quirky work, but I feel it deserves its place.

Since the strengths of the Gurrelieder rest in a number of elements other than the chorus . . .

Wuorinen, Mass for the Restoration of St Luke's
Rautavaara, Vigilia
Stravinsky, Canticum sacrum
Nielsen, Søvnen
Rakhmaninov, All-Night Vigil
Schnittke, Fourth Symphony

[San Antone]

It's just an observation I'm stating out, it isn't a superiority complex .. and it happens almost every time, half of the century is largely missing.

Someone has to say it, and of course if you do .. youre the "bad guy".

Not really.   

I may have missed it, but I didn't see your list.  What are the choral works written after 1950 that you think are as good as the ones that were listed that were written before 1950?

[Karl Henning]

And anyway, he's not the "bad guy," he's the class clown.  We all benefit from the chuckle.

[San Antone]

Here's a start

Wolfgang Rihm: Deus Passion


Maria Guinand, cond. - Golijov: Pasión según San Marcos


Tan Dun, cond. - Tan Dun: Water Passion after Saint Matthew


Stephen Layton, cond. - Lukaszewski: Via Crucis


Latvian Radio Choir - Vasks: Missa


Tonu Kaljuste, cond. - Pärt: In Principio


Juha Kotilainen, cond. - Linjama: Vesper


Tenebrae; Nigel Short, cond. - Talbot: Path of Miracles


Ed Spanjaard, cond. - Tsoupaki: St. Luke's Passion

[Christo]

And anyway, he's not the "bad guy," he's the class clown.  We all benefit from the chuckle.

Here's a start
Wolfgang Rihm: Deus Passion
Golijov: Pasión según San Marcos
Tan Dun: Water Passion after Saint Matthew
Lukaszewski: Via Crucis
Vasks: Missa
Pärt: In Principio
Linjama: Vesper
Talbot: Path of Miracles
Tsoupaki: St. Luke's Passion

Great series! I too love (and have) them all, even met Lukaszewski in Amsterdam, three years ago.
Except for the last three, that are literally unknown to me, Thanks for the tip, will look for them!

[San Antone]

Hugo Distler : chose suicide rather than serve Hitler



Because so much emphasis is currently placed upon the fate of Jewish composers under the Nazis, it is easy to forget that there were some German musicians who also suffered as a result of the repressive policies of the regime. Among those that can be singled out in this respect is Hugo Distler, a highly talented church organist and choral conductor who committed suicide at the age of 34 in 1942, on learning that he had been called up for military service. The two large-scale works presented here offer typical examples of the so-called Orgelbewegung style drawing their inspiration from Bach in the trenchant use of chorale and Schutz in the density of polyphonic argument. It's a tribute to Distler's mastery and the outstanding singing of the Netherlands Chamber Choir that despite this obvious musical provenance, both works strike an individual voice and sustain one's interest without the textural variety of an instrumental accompaniment.

Songlist: Totentanz, Spruchmotetten zum Totensonntag, Choral-Passion, Op. 7, Erster Teil: Der Einzug, Zweiter Teil: Judas und der Pharisaer Rat, Dritter Teil: Das Abendmahl, Vierter Teil: Gethsemane, Funfter Teil: Kaiphas, Sechster Teil: Pilatus, Letzter Teil: Golgotha

[Delicious Manager]

Britten - War Requiem
David Hykes - On Hearing Solar Winds
Janáček - Glagolitic Mass
Ligeti - Requiem
Rakhmaninov - All Night Vigil (Vespers)
Shostakovich - The Execution of Stepan Razin
Veljo Tormis - Raua needmine (Curse Upon Iron)

[Karl Henning]

Veljo Tormis - Raua needmine (Curse Upon Iron)

Hmm, I am curious.