Choral & vocal works for beginners...and beyond

[c#minor]

Purcell - Dido and Aeneas

Yeah i second that.

[Haffner]

Also Kyrie Eleison by Uli Roth 

Hey, what's that on? I have most of his music, but not that!

[Expresso]

Hey, what's that on? I have most of his music, but not that!

Ehm.. i meant Eleison from the album called "Beyond Astral Skies". If you don't have that one you should definatelly get it, it's his best work.

[pjme]

Hungarians love to sing and they sing extremely well:





Zoltan Kodaly's choral works are worth discovering. Approachable, very well crafted, lyrical, full of invention and variety.

Francis Poulenc : Litanies à la vierge noire de Rocamadour

Ralph Vaughan Williams : 5 mystical songs for baritone, chorus and orch. A beauty!

And discover this : Belgian composer Johan Duyck's recent Phaedra disc :



In Flanders' Fields Vol. 54    Phaedra CD  cat. 92054
El Camino del Alma; the Way of the Soul

1 Alma de la Música, op.16 (1996) Johan Duijck: 40:37
(The soul of music)  T: Fray Luis de León ~1578
for Soprano solo, Choir and Orchestra
2 Cantar del Alma, op.24 (2004) Johan Duijck 19:53
(Song of the soul) T: San Juan de la Cruz
for Contralto solo, Choir and Piano
3 Alma, búscate en Mí, op.25 (2005) Johan Duijck 9:56
(O soul, seek yourself in me) T: Santa Teresa de Ávila
for mixed Choir and Organ

performers:
Hilde Coppé, soprano (1-11)
Noëlle Schepens, alto (12-16)
Ignace Michiels, organ (17-20)
Hans Ryckelynck, piano (12-16)
Gents Madrigaalkoor (1-11) & (17-20)
Flemish Radio Choir (1-11,12-16)
Collegium Instrumentale Brugense (1-11)
Conductor: Johan Duijck   

Johan Duijck (°1954) is active as a choir director, pianist, teacher and composer, principally throughout Great-Britain (Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields), Flanders (Flemish Radio Choir) and Spain. He is the Director of the Academy for choir-conducting at the "Euskalleriko Abesbatzen Elkartea' – Barcelona.
He was trained by Peter Cabus (composition), Robert Steyaert (piano) and László Heltay (choir-conducting)
His classical training and his affinity with language and literature have certainly contributed to the richness of his compositions.


"Powerful and striking music, intriguing both vocally and instrumentally: such is the triptych _The Way of the Soul_ (El camino del alma) by the contemporary composer Johan Duijck, who lives and works in Belgium. The texts, by mystical poets from the Spanish Renaissance, have inspired this composer and conductor to searing music, in which overwhelming climaxes alternate with intimate moments of reflection. Powerful wave-like passages, little ripples on the surface, a piano that appears suddenly, a generous vocal solo, Duijck keeps surprising the listener. His style is distilled from Pärt, Tavener, Britten and other illustrious predecessors. But Duijck¹s own individuality suffices to justify the existence of these majestic works. The performance, made at three venues and conducted by Duijck himself, by Flemish musicians, including the Flemish Radio Choir and the Ghent Madrigal Choir, is rock-solid, as is the recording."



       

[Haffner]

Ehm.. i meant Eleison from the album called "Beyond Astral Skies". If you don't have that one you should definatelly get it, it's his best work.

Got to get that one!

[Papy Oli]

I have added the last recommendations to the initial post.
Thanks 

[Papy Oli]

Added a few more names to the original list : Gesualdo, Von Bingen, Leonin, Perotin, Dowland, Dunstable

[71 dB]

Elgar:

The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38 (Barbirolli)
The Apostles, Op. 49 (Boult)
The Kingdom, Op. 51 (Boult)

[knight66]

I suggest Tippet: Child of our Time. It is his most popular work. The structure is partly inspired by the Bach Passions. Instead of chorales Tippet uses Spirituals to great effect. The piece has a narrative and is anti-war in tone.

There is a superb performance by Colin Davis with Jessye Norman and Janet Baker.

I don't think I have missed reading any mention of the Tallis 40 part motet. It lasts about 14 minutes and is an unaccompanied choral piece written literally in 40 vocal lines divided into eight choirs. A masterpiece, intoxicating in its richness. The Allegri Misereri is another piece that is good for beginners. Kings College have made good recordings of it. It is a short piece, within it is a repeated solo soprano line of great beauty. It was kept as a piece just for the Vatican, however copies eventually leaked out and I have read in several places that Mozart copied it from memory having heard it in the Sistine Chapel.

Mike

[Papy Oli]

Have added the Elgar & Tippett recommendations to the list.

Mike,
Allegri's Misere and Tallis's 40-part motet were already in the list  but definitely 2 great starting points indeed.

The Misere and many other works by Byrd, Tallis, Perotin, Bach, etc... were performed last night in a Sacred Music concert on BBC Four by a choir called The Sixteen. I don't mind having my TV licence fee spent on such programmes 

[bhodges]

The Misere and many other works by Byrd, Tallis, Perotin, Bach, etc... were performed last night in a Sacred Music concert on BBC Four by a choir called The Sixteen. I don't mind having my TV licence fee spent on such programmes 

I bet that was a great program.  I have a few of The Sixteen's recordings but have yet to hear them live. 

--Bruce

[Papy Oli]

I bet that was a great program.  I have a few of The Sixteen's recordings but have yet to hear them live. 

--Bruce

An hour and a half of sheer bliss  that is in connection with the current Sacred Music series on the same channel - hopefully that may find its way on a DVD release when its broadcast is completed, if not, i'll make do with the copy i have taped.

I have a very soft spot for the sound of Jeremy Summerly's Oxford Camerata, but based on last night's performance, the Sixteen seems worth investigating further. Any specific Sixteen's recordings you'd recommend at all please ?

[bhodges]

An hour and a half of sheer bliss  that is in connection with the current Sacred Music series on the same channel - hopefully that may find its way on a DVD release when its broadcast is completed, if not, i'll make do with the copy i have taped.

I have a very soft spot for the sound of Jeremy Summerly's Oxford Camerata, but based on last night's performance, the Sixteen seems worth investigating further. Any specific Sixteen's recordings you'd recommend at all please ?

Sure, here are a few (I have to leave shortly for a concert).  According to their website, they have bought back all their catalog on Collins and are re-releasing them on the Coro label.

Ikon: Music for the Soul and Spirit
http://www.the-sixteen.org.uk/recordings/coro_ikon.php

The Eton Choirbook, Vol. III: The Pillars of Eternity (I think of the five, this is the one I have):
http://www.the-sixteen.org.uk/recordings/coro_22.php

I think I have others--some Britten IIRC--but don't see it listed.  Will try to check later. 

--Bruce

[pjme]

Swiss composer Frank Martin gets a generous treatment on:



See all the CD's at : http://www.the-sixteen.org.uk/about_us/the_sixteen.htm


Peter

[knight66]

Belshazzar's Feast by Walton; it is full of colour and the orchestral brass in particular have a riot. Definately one people can respond to easily.

Mike

[Papy Oli]

Bruce, Peter,

Brelated thanks for the link on the Sixteen 

Mike,
Will add your recommendation to the initial list.

Thanks.