Editorial Review

Beyond this recording's new age packaging and title is a splendid sampling of some of the world's finest choral music, sung by one of the world's outstanding choirs. This "anthology of sacred choral music" spans 400 years and includes such masterpieces as Allegri's Read more

Reviews (25)

Wow!
I'm a long-time listener of all things rock-'n-roll, from Classic rock, to Alternative, and even a little Metal.I first heard this CD while having dinner at a friends house a long time ago, and I loved it.I've always been enchanted with choir music, so I bought this CD.Well, after years of listening to it to help me to unwind in the evening, I somehow misplaced it.So I came to Amazon to order both I and II.Of the two CD's, the first one is still the best, and it still helps me to relax after a long day.The choir show tremendous range in their singing, the assorted instruments are well-played, and I can almost imagine myself sitting in a centuries-old cathedral, enjoying the music and how it rings throughout the cathedral.
Profound sublimity
This album offers music that is profoundly moving and sumbline. It takes the listener onto an inner journal of extraordinary emotional depths and heights

Beautiful music
The first song I've heard on this CD is "Miserere Mei..." and I loved it the first minute. I've heard it from a friend who likes classical, and I would've never bought this on my own.
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Subjects:  1. Anthem    2. Cantata    3. Choral    4. Choral Music    5. Classical    6. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    7. Classical Music    8. Classical Vocals    9. Hymn    10. Mass Section    11. Motet    12. Orchestral    13. Psalm Setting    14. Renaissance Mass    15. Requiem/Requiem Section    16. Romantic Variations for Orchestra    17. Sacred Choral Music a cappella    18. Sacred Music for more than one Soloist & Chorus   

Editorial Review

In this beautifully chosen program of mostly a cappella arrangements, Robert Shaw and the Robert ShawChamber Singers deliver the Christmas story in tones of gentle andmoving splendor. The carols and sacred settings recorded here are allof an intimate sort, and the rapturous, gently expressive realizationsShaw and his singers give them prove unfailingly appealing.Particularly moving is the newest work on the disc, a setting of "O magnum mysterium" by the American composer Morten Lauridsen. Franz Biebl's"Ave Maria" is another gem, as is the arrangement by Healy Willan ofthe French carol "What Is This Lovely Fragrance?" The offering includesa pair of chorales from Bach's Read more

Reviews (13)

a perfect Ceremony of Carols!
This is the finest recording of Britten's A Ceremony of Carols I've ever come across, and there are plenty of versions to choose from. The King's College Choir rendition suffers from overstuffed acoustics, a constant with that choir, and their recording of Ceremony of Carols falls short in the requisite rhythmic clarity and intensity. The Christ Church, Oxford version is plodding, and lacks sparkle. Harry Christopher's The Sixteen come close, with marvelous sonics and ecstatic diction, but fall apart in the exacting 'This Little Babe' round with uneven cohesion, and strange stressed notes that ruin the waterfall effect so felicitously construed by Britten. I've not heard Britten's own conducted version, but he scrupulously insisted on boy trebles, and it's difficult if not impossible to conjure a more perfect rendering than the one given here by Shaw and his Chamber Singers. 'This Little Babe' is incomparable in each and all of its rapid fire contours, which is no mean feat. Mezzo-soprano Nanette Soles deserves special mention for incandescent singing on 'That Younge Child". The luminous pacing of 'There is no rose of such virtue' is notable, and to his credit Shaw employs the ecclesiastical pronunciation of the various Latin passages, unlike The Sixteen (and most other English choir recordings of this piece) who insist on an idiomatic British pronunciation of Latin, which offers nothing but distraction. Some will prefer boy treble singers, an attractive option, but for high musical values and the art they inevitably enshrine, it's impossible to be disappointed with this profoundly wrought version of Ceremony of Carols. Bach's 'Break Forth, O beauteous heavenly light' is just right, and I'd not heard 'Heavenly Light' by Aleksandr Kopylov; both are favorable additions to an excellent recording. Recommended.

Brilliant compilation
This is an absolutely outstanding collection of carols - some of them well-known, some of them obscure. As a choral singer, I've had the pleasure of singing many of these pieces, and I was delighted when I found them all in one place, and done by an ensemble so accomplished as the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers! It just isn't Christmas for me without this recording.

Didn't care for it that much
I prefer to hear the voices and the words of the carols, and this one has too much other sound (maybe even the use of massed voices); I have a hard time hearing what they are singing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arranger    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Christmas    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Classical    8. Conductor    9. Easy Pop    10. Hymn    11. Lullaby    12. Mass Section    13. Miscellaneous    14. Miscellaneous Music    15. Oratorio    16. Part Song/Glee/Music for Unaccompanied Voices    17. Sacred Choral Music    18. Vocal    19. Vocal Music    20. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Editorial Review

The bad news is that this is Anonymous 4's final recording. The good news is that it's one of their best. Aside from a pair of brief 9th-century chants that flank the main program, the disc focuses on the music of Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century Benedictine nun whose liturgical works broke new ground in their visionary texts, rich imagery, and melodic range. The selections here relate to themes associated with the Holy Spirit--the fire of creation, wisdom, the life-giving spirit, and love. The imagery of Hildegard's visionary texts is replete with references to the basic elements--air, earth, fire, and water. The results are boldly original, at least within the restricted confines of chant, which offer compelling listening experiences as performed in the lustrous tones of Anonymous 4. The program includes a pair of Hildegard's most-rhapsodic extended visionary pieces, the consoling "O spirit of fire, bringer of comfort," and "I am the great and fiery power," whose soaring opening musical lines still can shock. Harmonia Mundi, as usual, captures the purity of Anonymous 4's singing in vivid sonics and provides deluxe production values, including a profusely illustrated booklet, with full texts and translations.Read more

Reviews (3)

My humble opinion.....
I gave this CD an above average rating. I did so because this is the 3rd CD that I have purchased from Anonymous 4 and to be quite honest they all sound the same to me. I personally feel that the style of Hildegard is heavy, crisp, intentional and complicated. It is unique compared to other styles of anicent choral music. Anonymous 4 has a very light, airy almost contemporary feel to whatever they sing. In the CD insert Anonymous 4 goes on to express how they prepared to sing the medeival music in latin with a German accent because that is where Hildegard was from, and that this is how she would have sung her music. But honestly I don't think one can tell. Like I said, this is my third CD from them and they all sound the same. Don't get me wrong ladies. You 4 have gorgeous voices but I have found that the albums by Sequentia that sing in Hildegard's von Bingen tradition to be more authentic. I recommend to those interested to try Chanticles of Extasy by Sequentia or any of Sequentia's albums. You'll understand what I mean after you compare them for yourselves.

Completely beautiful
This musical is relaxing uplifting, simple yet complicated.A total mental experience filled with beauty.

The Origins of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen
If you enjoy the music of Anonymous 4, you'll be thouroughly impressed with this presentation of Hildegard's music to God. Excellent is not enough praise for this interpretation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiphon    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Early Music / Chant    7. Hymn    8. Response    9. Sacred Choral Music    10. Western European Chant   

Editorial Review

Chanticleer's repertoire ranges through many centuries. On this recording, the group again proves its infinite versatility in a program of gospel music and spirituals. The singing is so authentic that one feels like a participant in a gospel meeting, swaying to the rhythm with the crowd. Contributing greatly to the impact is Chanticleer's guest, Yvette A. Funder. Possessor of a voice remarkable for its range, power, and flexibility, she brings to the music the empathy and authority of one born and raised in the tradition, whether leading call-and-response, engaging in improvisations that soar high above the chorus, crooning softly in meditation, or shouting in ecstasy. (She is also an active Bishop ministering to the poor and afflicted, and the founder of various social service agencies in California.) Several songs include soloists drawn from the chorus as well, most notably a tenor, a countertenor and a bass who provides a rhythmic ostinato. The program, designed for maximum variety of tempo, mood, character and texture, includes many favorite songs and spirituals, such as "Amazing Grace," "There is a Balm in Gilead," "Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child." The arrangements by Joseph Jennings, Chanticleer's Music Director for 20 years, are admirably simple and very good; only a few are marred by awkward modulations or overly sophisticated, Hollywood-inspired effects. Most of them are for a cappella voices. Jennings also contributes a new original composition: "Be still and Know that I'm God." Repeating these words like an invocation, it builds a cumulative drama with increasingly wild, elaborate improvisations in call-and-response between soloist and chorus; supported by a prominent piano part that includes solos, chordal and running passages, it ends with a rousing climax.Read more

Reviews (10)

Chanticleer, with Bp. Flunder: INDEED - How Very Sweet The Sound
On this standard red book 16-bit CD we are offered that rare and special invitation: Come now, pilgrim - take yet another good step forward in gospel praise or supplication.How can we progress in our individual and collective spiritual journeys towards whatever transcendent glories ground us, revive us, and lead us on despite life's challenges, unless we sing?.Are you having set backs?This CD is good medicine, and it is both a worthy addition to the gospel music shelf and perhaps just the sort of musical medicine that turns out to be good for you, on more than one level of body, mind, and soul.Not a bitter root aftertaste, nor a nagging fishy oil payback in any of this welcome elixir.I guess that is why we call it, Good News.
Crystalline
I'm not a huge fan of gospel, because I find it to be led by emotion, and musically undisciplined.Rousing, yes - but a little goes a long, long way.I've also found most gospel recordings to be sonically challenged.Almost as if microphones were incapable of capturing the music with clarity.None of this holds true for "How Sweet the Sound."This is a beautifully recorded cd, and every tune is both musically precise, and emotionally resonant.It is, however, a little hard to listen to in one sitting because of the "sameness" of the arrangements.That's a small quibble - who says any cd has to be experienced all at once - and "There is a Balm in Gilead," alone is worth the price of admission.

BestChanticleer CD Yet
This is the Best Chanticleer CD yet.I have listened to it dozens of times.Money well spent.I have even given copies to several of my friends. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Holiday    7. Hymn    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Sacred Vocal    11. Spirituals   

Editorial Review

What is this music? Fundamentally, it's an exploration of what happens when an improvisatory instrumental voice (saxophone) is placed into the world of early vocal music--which has elements of both improvisation and formal structure. In reality, it's an adventure in which the four male voices of the Hilliard Ensemble travel the 14th- and 15th-century territory of Morales and Dufay, visit the 12th century of Perotin, and roam even earlier ages of plainchant, accompanied by the always sensitive and tasteful--and often astonishing--saxophone improvisations of jazz master Jan Garbarek. Sometimes, these new melodies simply accompany; sometimes they transform the common--a routine minor chord, for instance--into a sublime, indescribable moment. The answer to the above question is easy--but it's different for each listener. Read more

Reviews (14)

Mixed feelings about mixed genres
Although I enjoy listening to these recordings for their serenity and sense of magical wonder, I tend to sympathise with some of the less glowing reviewers. My favourite passages are, without a shadow of a doubt, those in which the eminent Mr Garbarek's sax is 'tacit' or, at least, 'pianissimo'. Indeed, from time to time I struggle with an impulse to shout out: "Oh shut up, Jan, and let me listen to those wonderful singers!" That said, the voices and the sax do sometimes synergise, though I get the distinct impression that Mr Garbarek was simply overdubbing an existing recording by the Hilliard Ensemble: he seems to be reacting to them, but notvice versa. And with more rehearsal, his notes might have been more appropriate. FINAL VERDICT: an interesting oddity, not an unmitigated success.

Wow.
Gregorian chant is one form of music. If you must have it in the pure form, go elsewhere.
What Coltrane hears in heaven
If you haven't heard any of these tracks before, then almost nothing can prepare you for them.I do feel sorry for those listeners whose sensibilities have been outraged, and who believe that these songs are set in stone, and that no kind of improvisation is legal.The effect must be like seeing (as Prince Charles remarked of a modern building in London) a carbuncle on the face of a loved old friend.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Choral    3. Classical    4. Classical Crossover    5. Conductus    6. Hymn    7. Jazz Music    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Part Song/Glee/Music for Unaccompanied Voices    11. Sacred Choral Music    12. Vocal    13. Western European Chant   

Reviews (2)

my favorite christmas cd
Usually period music is so poorly produced and cliche, but this CD is flawless.The quality of sound is amazing; the beauty of the music transcends time and space.If you buy one Christmas CD, buy this one.It's the perfect elegant moodsetter for the season.

Great for a snowy night and a quite house
I first heard cuts off this CD on the syndicated early music program Harmonia and was enchanted by it.I ordered it the next day and wasn't disappointed after it arrived.The CD comprises various English, French, & Italian carols, dance tunes, noels, and melodies from the 16th century.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music    3. Choral    4. Choral Music    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Early Music    8. Holiday    9. Hymn    10. Miscellaneous    11. Miscellaneous Music    12. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    13. Pop    14. Renaissance Motet    15. Vocal    16. Xmas Classical Instrumental   

Reviews (1)

Sublimely beautiful!
Heavenly music, beautifully captured in a location with fantastic acoustics. This is music that needs to be heard on headphones or outstanding surround sound to be really appreciated. Here I am in February still listening to this CD of Xmas music... it's very calming to the soul. I can't recommend this highly enough. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Christmas / Chanukkah    5. Christmas Music    6. Classical    7. Hymn    8. Magnificat    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Sacred Choral Music    12. Sacred Choral Music a cappella    13. Secular Choral Music a cappella    14. Vocal    15. Vocal Music    16. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Reviews (2)

Highest Quality Hildegard
Sequentia's entire series of Hildegard recordings is inspired, but there is a rather inarticulable quality to this cd that somehow soars even higher.It is apparently a result of the centrality of the Ursula stories, here musically illustrated, to Hildegard's entire conception of herself as a pledged virgin and artisan, and the freedom she found within that role to allow her gifts to fly as high as they could for the glory of God.Nor, in our terms, was it any sort of solo act:Hildegard stood quite consciously at the pinnacle of a vast supporting structure of devotion, prayer, sacred order and art.

Absolutely divine.
"My husband and I first encountered this CD in our local library. It's one of those encounters that transformed our life. Listening to italmost daily, while we're getting ready for the day, while we're working onour computers, or while doing the dishes, has helped us have an experienceof the divine no matter where we are or what we're doing. Ever since wewere introduced to the work of St. Hildegard of Bingen, we have read quitea bit about her and her works and are truly grateful to this great soul forwhat she has given our world. This CD is a great introduction to the worldof Hildegard, together with another fine CD, Feather on the Breath ofGod." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiphon    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Choral    5. Classical    6. Classical Composers    7. Classical Music    8. Early Music / Chant    9. Hymn    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Response    12. Sacred Choral Music   

Reviews (2)

Music for Personal Relection and Prayer
Sacred Treasures IV is a beautiful tapestry of tonal prayers and a wonderful tool for quiet reflection. Each piece has been carefully selected for its text, musical texture, instrumentation and performance.The collection has much variety in these respects, incorporating a distinctly different setting of Our Father in a folk setting for women's voices, a secular setting from Morten Lauridsen's Poem Cycle: Le Chanson des Roses, as well as two instrumental pieces by Arvo Part. Still,a continuity of atmosphere and purpose gives the listener a sense of inner peace.
Stunning Musical Expressions of Piety
This CD is another fine offering in the "Sacred Treasures" series.Unlike many other compilations, the represented ensembles are some of the best in the world and each piece has been chosen with deliberation and care.This particular volume highlights the continuity of the sacred music tradition, reaching back to high craft of Renaissance Polyphony (Tom?s Luis de Victoria) to today's more contemporary composers such as P?rt and Lauridsen. From pieces as seemingly disparate as Kedrov's Russian Orthodox "Otche Nash" and Lauridsen's "Contre qui, Rose" the listener obtains the same sense of a very personal piety.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Hymn    5. Keyboard    6. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    7. Magnificat    8. Mass    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. New Age / Meditation    12. New Age Collections    13. Pop    14. Requiem/Requiem Section    15. V/a Compilations    16. Violin with Keyboard   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (2)

King's College Classic
Way back in the dark ages, before CDs roamed the earth, I purchased the LP of this recording. It remains my favorite performance of Britten's work. The voices of the choir, accompanied by one harp, weave an achingly beautiful tapestry of sound. It is a wonderful way to introduce children and friends to the English choral tradition of sacred music.

Britten Brilliance
Captivating from start to finish: EMI has programmed & remastered this bounty of Britten choral work superbly. The Choir of King's College,Cambridge performs with stunning sensitivity, ethereal, heartbreaking & transcendent. A just classic disc ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cantata    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Hymn    7. Modern Mass    8. Sacred Choral Music    9. Te Deum   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (16)

Magnificent voices, songs and arrangements
This is an extraordinary collection.The songs are irresistible, the voices incredibly powerful and filled with appropriate emotion, and the orchestra is very simply great.You'll want to buy this album for others.Simply beautiful.A pure joy.

Not their best album
For the most part this is an enjoyable collections of sacred music. However the inclussion of "Lord of the Dance" and other modern tunes are dreary no matter who sings them.

Excellent !!
I recently went to a concert to hear The Irish Tenors.They did several songs from this CD and it was great.If you like John McDermott as much I do then you must have this CD.This is a triple good CD with 3 top tenors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Crossover    6. Classical Vocals    7. Hymn    8. Inspirational    9. Ireland    10. Irish Folk    11. Miscellaneous    12. Miscellaneous Music    13. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    14. Vocal    15. Vocal Music    16. Vocal Pop    17. Western European Chant   

Editorial Review

This is the record that started the Hildegard craze back in 1982--and you need only listen to Emma Kirkby glide and soar through Read more

Reviews (14)

Short, but still the very best of Hildegard of Bingen. Buy It.
'A feather on the breath of God' is a performance of eight 'Sequences and Hymns' by Abbess Hildegard of Bingen' which has been lauded by Gramophone Magazine as a 'Best of' in the year it was released.
The great thing about classical music
Is that you can keep discovering new and beautiful music.New?It's only 900 years old.This is a case of something which I would never have thought I'd have an interest in, but upon listening have had my mind opened and educated.
Probably the best Hildegard interpretation around?
This album is so beautiful it hurts. Hildegard surely must rank as the foremost composer of the millenium - anyway, it does take some talent to stay popular for 900 years! It even runs cirles around the more well-known singing of the monks of Santo Domingo De Silos, and that album is also good. I have not yet heard Agnethe Christensen's interpretation of Hildegard, that one just might be better.
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Subjects:  1. Antiphon    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Early Music / Chant    8. Hymn    9. Medieval    10. Response    11. Sacred Choral    12. Sacred Choral Music   

Reviews (2)

The Holidays Never Sounded So Good!
I loved the "50 Most Loved Piano Classics," so I decided to try another "50 Most Loved" collection, this time the Christmas Carols album.These are classics in their own right as the arrangements and orchestrations are enchantingly beautiful and the choir vocals provide perfect point-counterpoint.I hate to admit this, but I'll probably still be listening to this CD long after Christmas is over.There's a cinematic soundtrack quality that I find haunting.Have a great holiday with this one!

Very pleased
This is an excellent value.3 CD's and 50 songs for under $20.00.If you're looking for traditional Christmas music, this is the collection to buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Christmas    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Holiday    8. Hymn    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    12. Oratorio    13. Pop    14. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    15. Sacred Choral Music    16. Secular Choral Music with Keyboard (or Continuo)    17. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    18. V/a Compilations    19. Vocal    20. Vocal Music   

Features

• Import

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Hymn    5. Miscellaneous    6. Miscellaneous Music    7. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    8. Pop    9. Psalm Setting    10. Requiem/Requiem Section    11. Rock    12. Rock/Pop    13. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    14. Vocal    15. Vocal Music   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (1)

Essential Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD
This CD was timely shipped in great condition, and at a reasonable price.These classical songs are wonderful to hear in order to bring back old memories and feelings.The only glitch is that the reproduction of these recordings is alittle weak; the volume and clarity of some songs are off just a bit.I have heard better reproductions of other old recordings, but I'm not really complaining.You'll love this CD if you like its genre. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Choral    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Vocals    6. Film    7. Film Music    8. Folk Song    9. Gospel Choir    10. Hymn    11. Hymns    12. Italian Baroque Opera    13. Italian Romantic Opera    14. Miscellaneous    15. Miscellaneous Music    16. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    17. Opera    18. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    19. Romantic Symphony    20. Solo Voice and Continuo   

Features

• Box set

Subjects:  1. Anthem    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. Cantata    4. Cello with Keyboard    5. Chamber    6. Chamber Music & Recitals    7. Choral    8. Choral Music    9. Chorale Setting    10. Clarinet Solo/Sonata    11. Classical    12. Classical Composers    13. Concerto    14. Concerto for Two Pianos    15. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    16. Gloria    17. Hymn    18. Keyboard    19. Kyrie    20. Mass Section   

Features

• Import

Reviews (2)

Inspirational!
Majestic hymns sung with British accents. A great combination! I haven't noticed any objectionable sounds on my copy.

hymns we sang in church
i grew up in a traditional presbyterian church that had a pipe organ.i wanted a cd of many of the hymns that we sang in church sung by a choir and accompanied by a pipe organ.this cd fulfilled my wishes perfectly.the hymns are performed in a very straight-forward fashion with no show-boating or excess flourishes which is exactly what i wanted.this is not gospel music but what i refer to as liturgical music to indicate that it is religious music but not gospel music.i would give it 5 stars but there is a slight hiss.other than that the recording quality is very good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Classical    4. Funeral Music    5. Hymn    6. Miscellaneous    7. Miscellaneous Music    8. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    9. Sacred Choral Music    10. Vocal    11. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

Go right to the first track and prepare for one of the most masterful and stylishperformances of Palestrina that you'll ever hear. It's not flashy music nor is the singingespecially virtuosic, but the unified phrasing, ideal balance among sections, and overall ensembletechnique is impressive, and Palestrina's little motet simply opens and displays itself like a beautifulflower. The rest of the program, which includes a variety of beautiful flowers from composers suchas Josquin, Sweelinck, and Tallis, maintains the same standard. Anyone looking for an introductionto Renaissance sacred choral music will find much here to encourage further exploration--standardslike Byrd's "Ave verum corpus" and Victoria's "O magnum mysterium"-- and lesser known tiny masterpieces such as Victoria's "Jesu, dulcis memoria." TheVoices of Ascension ranks with the world's finest choirs, and this recording reflects both thehighest standard of choral singing and the highest standard of choral composition during theRenaissance. Read more

Reviews (15)

Captivating!
I was christened as a choral music fan once, as a college student, I heard the music of the Cambridge Singers. Inundated with classical music for years, how could I never have heard such music?! It was as if my musical senses were born anew: for it was with the same awe as a child encountering the world for the first time, that I discovered this novel and fascinating world of a cappella choral music. There were landmark discoveries along the way: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge; Concordia Choir; St. Olaf Choir; the Dale Warland Singers; the Kansas City Chorale; Kantorei; the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Singers...and (as you expected!) I must end with the Voices of Ascension. The clarity of their pure voices can only be paralleled by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge. Chant haters, do not avoid this CD - you will find no chants here! Chants hold absolutely NO intrigue for me and I cannot endure listening to them for long periods of time. By contrast, this music, aptly named "Beyond Chant," truly does uncover hidden musical treasures of the Renaissance for those who would ordinarily avoid such music. The intricately woven a cappella harmonies are captivating and satisfying. I highly recommend this CD to all choral music fans.

Lofty music
Some of the earliest pieces of Christian music are the various kinds of chant.These hearken back to synagogue singing; there were various kinds of chant, including Gregorian, Old Roman, Mozarabic, Cistercian and Anglican chant.These tend toward the monophonic, singing with a single 'tune' or lone.They are generally without regular beats or set meters.However, in the Renaissance, monophonic chant grew into a polyphonic form, and this is one of the most glorious eras of music. (My shelves at home are filled with CDs of this sort.)Composers in this era include many represented on this disc - Palestrina, Desprez, Victoria, Lassus, Byrd, Gibbons and Tallis were some of the leading lights of the time.Lesser known but still glorious include Tye, Viadana, Sweelinck, Hassler, Batten and Schutz.
Slow down Maestro !
Another reviewer writing about another album by Dennis Keene wrote:Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthem    2. Baroque Motet    3. Choral    4. Choral Music    5. Classical    6. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    7. Classical Music    8. Classical Vocals    9. Conductus    10. Hymn    11. Miscellaneous    12. Miscellaneous Music    13. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    14. Motet    15. Psalm Setting    16. Renaissance Motet    17. Sacred Choral Music    18. Vocal   

Reviews (5)

Very inspiring music
I always enjoy listening to this Cd and particularly because of the orchestra and mellifluous choir. I especially enjoy: A Mighty Fortress, Come Down, O Love Divine, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, and Thine Be The Glory. Some of the selections are soft such as "The Lord's My Shepherd" and "Drop, Drop, Slow Tears." Still, it is a fabulous selection and one of my favorites.

Great English Hymns
This was one of my Christmas gifts and I really looked forward to listening to it.I had just visited King's College, Cambridge back in August and really liked it--you should try to make it out there if possible.
Buy this CD!
Having heard Kings College Choir twice, in the flesh, at Kings, this CD is a wonderful example of what you might hear. If you can't make it to Cambridge, buy this CD. It contains many of the old favorites and also some hymns that are not found on other English hymn CD's. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Individual Dance Movement for Orchestra    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Classical Music    7. Classical Vocals    8. Hymn    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    12. Orchestral    13. Sacred Choral Music    14. Vocal    15. Wedding Music   

Reviews (11)

Music of the people
On Eagles Wings is most definatly inspired.... Latin Music is great if you understand itm but I have not heard any conversations in Latin lately.The most important aspect of liturgy is the participation of the assembly and if the assembly (or most of it) does not understand what is being sung or said What's the use?Catholic Tradition is great kept alive on CD for those who want to walk down memory lanebut it is a Vatican 2 church......deal with it or get out and join one of those rougue churches that say mass in Latin and stop trying to move backwards.There is nothing more powerful than a singing actively participating church.......let's not stiffle the voice of the Body of Christ.

Good But Not Haunting Or Mysterious.
Hello, this music is good but it is not haunting,mysterious,Otherworldly,or timeless like Gregorian Chant or The Latin Mass now all I can say is that we as catholics threw out 1400 years of beautiful music for junk like "On Eagles Wings".Though To the person who said they prefer this to the pre-vatican 2 dirge music you are very close-minded and devoid of art and beauty and judging by what you said you are part of what I call the weak generation of Catholics who are only catholic on paper and have no sense of history for your very beautiful and mysterious church. Most people from that generation see the catholic church only after vatican 2 and you forget about the past councils and teachings of the Catholic church and it's history,I mean there is a reason they kept it so long it was for it's goodness(if it was bad it would not lasted 1400 years) as a priest on EWTN said to those who say "That is so pre-vatican 2" "So was Jesus." You see Latin Is very Beautiful and Mysterious language and it is a very catholic thing I mean whats more catholic then Gregorian Chant or the Latin Mass it's timeless like the church itself we as catholics need to start reclaiming are heritage from the likes of liberal priest and bishops of the 60's generation regardless of what they say there do as you please Mass is not in the spirit of Vatican II which allowed the use of vernacular in the Mass but it did not intend for Latin and Gregororian Chant to disappear it said to preserve it and give it, it's proper place that is what has been the intention of every pope since including this one they have all encouraged the use of Latin and Gregorian Chant in the mass.
Very Good Traditional Hymns
It sounds like you are in Church, and that is what I was looking for. I especially like the Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones, Peace is flowing like a river, and Let There Be Peace on Earth.Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    5. Classical Pop    6. Hymn    7. Orchestral & Symphonic    8. Vocal    9. Vocal Music    10.&