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Track Listings
| 1. Agnus Dei, op.11 - Barber |
| 2. Cantique de Jean Racine, op.11 - Faure |
| 3. Kyrie - Palestrina |
| 4. Ave Verum Corpus K 618 - Mozart |
| 5. Jesus bleibet meine Freude - Bach |
| 6. Ave Maria, op.37 No.6 - Choir Of New College Oxford |
| 7. Lux Aeterna - Choir Of New College Oxford |
| 8. Totus Tuus - Choir Of New College Oxford |
| 9. Hear my prayer - Mendelssohn |
| 10. The Lamb - Tavener |
| 11. In paradisum - Faure |
| 12. Miserere mei, Deus - Choir Of New College Oxford |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
This album of choral classics, recorded in the beautiful acoustics of New College Chapel, Oxford, has been given the subtitle "World of Inner Harmony". If one were to be cynical, it suggests a stream of crystals'n'kaftans mood music. The surprise, however, is that though conductor Edward Higginbottom has created an unruffled surface of reflection and calm, he and his choir have also crafted a musically satisfying disc. Much of the variety is to be found in the significantly different styles on offer, from the slow build of Barber's Agnus Dei, through the restrained Gallic beauty of Fauré's Cantique de Jean Racine, to the spare spirituality of Górecki's Totus Tuus. There is also a sophisticated approach to the different acoustics needed for each piece. Fauré's In Paradisum is handled with much more intimacy than, for example, the Kyrie of Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli, which is recorded at a far greater distance. The most risky item on the disc is John Cameron's arrangement of Elgar's "Nimrod" for eight-part choir, using the words of the Lux Aeterna: it teeters between kitsch and real power. In the end, as with most of the pieces here, the choir's extraordinary performance renders it hugely enjoyable. --Warwick Thompson
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This CD from New College is worth buying for the Allegri's Miserere alone - I have six or seven different recordings of this piece including the famous King's version and New College's version is undoubtedly the best. The entire programme is well chosen, encompassing music from eight different European countries and covering a time span of almost five hundred years. Each piece flows easily into the next and a sense of continuity is felt despite the time leaps between pieces. The sound is arresting - Edward Higginbottom cultivates a unique sound in his trebles, chesty and strong in the lower registers and almost painfully sweet and pure in the higher, at all times emotionally charged, the expression heightened by the earthy vibrato. The famous "fruity" alto tone of New College is as much in evidence as ever here. Perhaps the commercial success of this CD is due to Higginbottom's ability to create a new interpretation of even the best known pieces, and to his incredible sensitivity to dynamics and expression. A vital addition to any classical music collection.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By I philomel
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a life long devotee of Elgar's music . The words of the litergical Agnus Dei fit seamlessly into the glorious music. Edward Higginbottom( In my opinion the best Choral conductor around at the moment) produces a beautiful sound from the excellent New College Oxford Choir.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A fine compilation of religious music from Barber to Allegri.I think the collection is crowned by Allegri's Miserere mei, Deus, secret for hundreds of years on the pain of excommunication.It was sung once a year on Ash Wednesday beneath the glories of the Sistene Chapel,where a 12 year old Mozart heard it and copied it down note for note, afterwards.The Pope Urban VIII summoned him to The vatican only to praise his musical genius.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Speechless is where i can only start!
This a short and sweet review.
Beautiful, encapsulates the holy spirit. i listened to this album when it first come out back in 1998 i believe, and loved it then, love... Read more
Beautiful, encapsulates the holy spirit. i listened to this album when it first come out back in 1998 i believe, and loved it then, love... Read more
Published 1 month ago by doublecheeseman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Agnus Dei Vol. 1
A delicious selection of music beautifully sung with subtle instrumental accompaniments.
An ideal present for friends and relatives. Highly recommended.
An ideal present for friends and relatives. Highly recommended.
Published 2 months ago by CrazyCrochets
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional
This music is sublime. If you like relaxing choral and classical music just buy it, no ifs or buts. An exceptional recording of the choir of the New college, Oxford and there are... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bryan Hobson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Agnus Dei
I was looking for a piece of music used in a TV play. This was it and even playing it makes me cry. Beautiful Music and well recorded.
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by J. P. Stubbs
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Barber Adagio sends chills down my back
The singing in the Barber Adagio is exquisite. The phrasing is elegant, the pace is right, and the sopranos nail some stratospheric notes near the end that send chills down my... Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2007 by John S. Allen
2.0 out of 5 stars
Mystified by all this praise
My previous review (now deleted) started with the words "Avoid at all costs" - and got 15 'unhelpful' ratings. Read more
Published on 14 April 2002 by Mr. F. L. Dunkin Wedd
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