One-Voice-Per-Part (OVPP) & other "transparent" recordings

[bassio]

Since I started discovering vocal music (I am a total beginner when it comes to vocal), I found out that I tended to prefer more transparent textures .. so can we open a thread for discussion of recommended/new OVPP recordings?

I assume it will be mainly Bach, but I will leave the topic title open to in case you can recommend performances of other composers as well.

[knight66]

I am not too sure you are going to get very many suggestions; as four part music tends to have been sung by ensembles, though there are exceptions. Here is one, very beautiful set of short songs. Some are solo, others duet and some are ensemble pieces with the four singers. There are recordings for choir, but here you get just four singers.



Schubert wrote some part songs and on Hyperion you might track down the ones just covered by one voice per part. Again, they are often sung by a small ensemble.

The Kings Singers are mainly recording one voice per part. So, you might look at their output.

As far as Bach is concerned, there are a few one to a part recordings, but fairly radical. There is a terrific version of the B Minor Mass conducted by Joshua Rifkin, he pretty much lead the way with this idea. Initially it was scoffed at, but more recently his idea was followed by McCreech in a superb version of St Matthew Passion.




The Byrd four and five part masses will be sung by a small choir, but the lines are very clear. If you want any decent selection of music, you will have to think about being less dogmatic over one voice per part.
Mike

[bassio]

If you want any decent selection of music, you will have to think about being less dogmatic over one voice per part.
Mike

knight, thanks for your suggestions

You are of course correct 100% .. but the thing is that I am still not easy with huge choral forces and I always prefer intimate settings with transparent textures, it even helps in deciphering the text and diction of the performers. (at least for a non-English non-German non-Italian non-Latin native speaker like me )

I did not intend to open this thread only for the extreme radical/destructive examples  in this category (although IMO they may shed new light on many old repertoire) .. but also for recordings that achieve top notch transparency and clarity, and are also good interpretations in the same time.

hmm .. maybe I will tweak the title of the topic a bit

[bassio]

Ok, here it goes:

My favorite "crystal-clear" Mozart Requiems (mind you: not OVPP, but still "crystal-clear")

 

These also happen to be my favorite versions of the work; transparent and achieve the correct balance with adequate use of forces in the orchestra and choir.

Waiting for more suggestions.
(I guess flautotransverso will chime in soon, given the HIP nature of the thread  )

[bassio]

hmm .. interesting, this particular recording generated the most controversial opinions and reviews.

[Shrunk]

hmm .. interesting, this particular recording generated the most controversial opinions and reviews.

It would be one of my "desert island discs" FWIW.

[Que]

Ok, here it goes:

My favorite "crystal-clear" Mozart Requiems (mind you: not OVPP, but still "crystal-clear")

 

These also happen to be my favorite versions of the work; transparent and achieve the correct balance with adequate use of forces in the orchestra and choir.

Waiting for more suggestions.

Definitely check out Bruno Weil's recording with even smaller numbers and more transparency as a result, but also musically the most satisfactory HIP Mozart Requiem I know: intimate and touching.

(I guess flautotransverso will chime in soon, given the HIP nature of the thread  )

Unfortunately I haven't seen him around for quite some time now....

Q

[marvinbrown]

  Although I am not a big fan of OVPP I can recommend this:

 

  marvin

[prémont]

Unfortunately I haven't seen him (=Traverso) around for quite some time now....

Q

He seems to have left Corksters platform too. His last post there was written 7/8-08. 

[knight66]

It would be one of my "desert island discs" FWIW.

Mine too; before I heard it I would never have believed how dramatic the music could be with such limited sources.

Well, if it is chamber choir size, then have a look at The Cambridge Singers output. One disc in particular, Ave Gracia Plena. Not a boring dirgelike procession; far from it. One gem in particular is by Stravinsky, but it embraces a number of beautiful settings of hymns to Mary.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ave-Gracia-Plena/dp/B0000031HP/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224363000&sr=1-34

Another beauty is their sampler disc, called 'A Portrait of the Cambridge Singers'.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portrait-Cambridge-Singers/dp/B0000031I8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224363206&sr=1-5

Mike

[Bulldog]

  Although I am not a big fan of OVPP I can recommend this:

 

  marvin

That's a great set, perhaps the best Bach Cantatas set in my collection.