Choral Question...

[huntsman]

I'm looking for something with a large choral presence, and a church-like sound. Big and Catholic in nature. It doesn't all have to be choral, but a good part would be wonderful.

Handel's Messiah springs to mind but I was wondering if you could suggest an alternative/addition?

[Karl Henning]

Have you given Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms a go?

[huntsman]

I haven't Karl, but if you recommend it I will go searching...! 

Thanks!

[Mirror Image]

Tippett: A Child of Our Time

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Britten: War Requiem

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Not religious works of course, but they're huge choral works and incredibly powerful anti-war musical statements.

[huntsman]

Thanks, M.I. and I will certainly take a listen if I can find these, but I am keen on 'churchy' for this one...





...You hiding from someone with all these avatar changes?? 

[Karl Henning]

More Orthodox than Catholic, but I'd also heartily recommend Ivan Moody's Passion and Resurrection. Ivan tells me that the piece will be sung in St Petersburg this month.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, M.I. and I will certainly take a listen if I can find these, but I am keen on 'churchy' for this one...





...You hiding from someone with all these avatar changes?? 

I change my avatars all the time. It's just apart of my indecisiveness, but I'll stick with Griffes for awhile. Oh, you want a choral work influenced by the church. Well, here you go:

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[Wanderer]

Some suggestions to get you started:

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
Mozart: Mass in C minor (K.427)
Bruckner: Te Deum
Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts (Requiem)
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.2 "Lobgesang"
Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress
Schmidt: Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln
Haydn: Die Schöpfung
Walton: Belshazzar's Feast

[TheGSMoeller]

Have you given Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms a go?

This, and...

Some suggestions to get you started:

Mozart: Mass in C minor (K.427)
Bruckner: Te Deum
Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts (Requiem)
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Haydn: Die Schöpfung

...these. All great choices. Especially Berlioz, the Agnus Dei from his Requiem contains the most beautiful ending I think I've ever heard.

[huntsman]

Lots of help here - thanks fellas! 

[knight66]

More compact than the Grande Masse, but with thrilling impetus there is the Berlioz Te Deum. Here you get the full-on experience of the bells and smells, the swinging incense. It does not come more churchy in a big, spectacular way. It is a choral piece without soloists.

If you want something less epic, Bruckner Motets contain somehow whole symphonies in compact form.  Again, no soloists to speak of. Concentrated, distilled, beautiful writing and the pieces contrast styles yet are certainly of a piece.

Mike

[huntsman]

Thanks Mike -

Is Te Deum also known as Opus 22?

[Papy Oli]

Another Arvo Part rec - choir only, based on the Canon of Repentance, a manuscript of the Slavonic church. Nice contrasts between the "big" and quieter moments 

[knight66]

Thanks Mike -

Is Te Deum also known as Opus 22?

Yes, he only composed one setting of it.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=GxCGFPEx2Ks

Mike

[huntsman]

Righto.

I have a pal I can borrow this from...

Papy Oli, I  don't have access to that one, but will keep an eye out, thanks!

[Papy Oli]

Papy Oli, I  don't have access to that one, but will keep an eye out, thanks!

Here's one track to give you a feel of the atmosphere of the work :

http://youtu.be/QkVRo3Wt9HM

[huntsman]

Here's one track to give you a feel of the atmosphere of the work :

http://youtu.be/QkVRo3Wt9HM

Oh that is beautiful...

I've just finished listening to Te Deum and it's also wonderful!

[knight66]

Here is another contrast. Two solo voices and a sparse accompaniment. Contemplative, the Couperin Trois Lecons de Tenedres is literally a journey into darkness. The tradition was to progressively extinguish candles until darkness is obtained. The vocal writing consists of long sinuous, melismatic melodies. It sits at the far extreme from the Berlioz.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=0byN0Xs5BM8


Mike

[huntsman]

 I couldn't open that one, Mike - it opens to a 'desktop' and whilst I could see the video, I could not get it (or any of the others) to open.

I'll keep trying...

[Karl Henning]

That was a mobile link. Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/0byN0Xs5BM8