Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Track Listings
| 1. I Thank You God for Most This Amazing Day |
| 2. I Hide Myself |
| 3. Sleep |
| 4. I Will Wade Out |
| 5. Go, Lovely Rose |
| 6. When David Heard |
| 7. Hope, Faith, Life, Love |
| 8. Cloudburst |
| 9. With a Lily in Your Hand |
| 10. Thsi Marriage |
| 11. Water Night |
| 12. A Boy And A Girl |
| 13. Her Sacred Spirit Soars |
| 14. Lux Aurumque |
Product Description
CD Description
At the age of only 35, Eric Whitacre has already gained a phenomenal reputation in the United States. The Los Angeles Times described his music as having 'electric, chilling harmonies; works of unearthly beauty and imagination' and his "Water Night" (included on this new recording) has become one of the most popular choral works of the last decade, and is one of the top-selling choral publications of all time.
Product Description
I thank you God for most this amazing day - I hide myself - Sleep - I will wade out - Go, lovely Rose - When David Heard ... / Robert Millet, percussion - Stephen Betteridge, piano - Polyphonie, dir. Stephen Layton
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I totally agree with the other reviewers. Polyphony are apparently peerless and Eric Whitacre's music is outstandingly beautiful, and very moving at times (especially given Stephen Layton's sensitive direction - the way he holds back in Sleep, fo example, is stunning). Go and buy this now!!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Chorister
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this CD after hearing the track 'Sleep' on Classic FM and reading the reviews from other Amazon customers. Both the writing by Eric Whitacre and performance by Polyphony and Stephen Layton are of the highest quality. It is spine-tingling stuff and highly recommended to all lovers of choral music. I have worked with Stephen Layton when he was a guest conductor with the choir I sing with and he was truly inspirational. Thank you Hyperion for making this recording possible.
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By G. R. Ford
Format:Audio CD
If you wish to understand how music can bring inner peace and healing and touch the deepest emotions, listen to this quite remarkable album. It evokes joy, anguish and moments of profound stillness and the music echoes every mood and nuance of the wonderful poems. I cannot praise Polyphony highly enough - their recent album of Morten Lauridsen's equally ravishing choral work (Lux Aeterna)- was achingly beautiful, but this has touched a further dimension of artistic expression. Outstanding tracks for me are "I thank thee God", "Sleep" and "A Boy and a Girl". Eric Whitacre wherever you are - bless you.
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Eric Whitacre, at the age of 36, is already one of America's most established choral composers. It's such a shame that his music isn't as well known over here, as in my opinion, this is the most amazing choral music you will ever hear by a long shot.
The composer has released one a capella album before this with the Brigham Young University Choir, which was an amazing recording. However, this recording by Polyphony (a professional choir from the UK) stands out miles above this. Everything you'd want from a choir, you have in this album - beautiful music, pure tone and superb ensemble.
The choir manage to create such an angelic sound, with the music managing to float effortlessly above the listener. The tone of the soloists is pure, and the sound of the whole ensemble is crisp.
My favourite is 'When David Heard', a setting of the devastating text taken from samuel 2. The amount of emotion in this piece is heart-wrenching, and you will never hear a better piece of music.
Overall, thisis pne hell of an album, with a brilliant choir, superb direction and spectacular composition. I suggest buying this album!
It beats listening to Mozart this year!!!
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I don't think I've ever heard choral singing of this calibre before... this disk should be required listening for anyone who wants to sing contemporary choral music.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I agree with the reviewer above. This is the finest choral album I've ever heard. "When David heard..." is extraordinary. "Sleep" and "This marriage" are luminous and moving. But my favourite is the unusual setting of Emily Dickinson's poem, "I hide myself".
I have found nothing to match Polyphony's singing and Whitacre's music reveals yet more of this group's powers.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I like to think of Eric Whitacre as the healthy face of modern music making. His shoulder length blond hair suggests a musical apprenticeship in an early 90's grunge rock band. Things might have turned out that way, but everything changed on the day he joined the choir at college to check out the girls - and got entranced by the sound of Mozart's Requiem which they were rehearsing. His first works written in 1991 around age 21 that are included here: `I hide myself' (words by Emily Dickenson) and `Go, lovely rose' (words by Edward Waller), are squarely in the area of American and British 20th century choral traditions, but already his ability to conjure up ravishing harmonies is evident.
From the first notes on this disc: a setting of e e cummings `I thank you God for this most amazing day', the music says ` classic choral composition'. It isn't so much that the music reminds the listener of any particular previous music, it is more that this composer has the elements of choral composition under his complete control and knows just how to bring voices together to produce this elusive transcendent sound. Some people hear echoes of Avro Part, but if anything Whitacre is the Anti-Part: where Part strives for simplicity Whitacre luxuriates in richness. Listening to his music is like having your ears kissed by angels.
Near the centre of the disc are two longer settings. Track 6 `When David heard' gradually and insistently builds over its 13 minute length with the repeated affirmation `my son'. Track 8 `Cloudburst' is the most ambitious composition here with voices rising from speech into song, eventually joined by the clapping, finger clicking and thigh tapping of the singers to stimulate a rainstorm. It works incredibly well.... Read more ›
From the first notes on this disc: a setting of e e cummings `I thank you God for this most amazing day', the music says ` classic choral composition'. It isn't so much that the music reminds the listener of any particular previous music, it is more that this composer has the elements of choral composition under his complete control and knows just how to bring voices together to produce this elusive transcendent sound. Some people hear echoes of Avro Part, but if anything Whitacre is the Anti-Part: where Part strives for simplicity Whitacre luxuriates in richness. Listening to his music is like having your ears kissed by angels.
Near the centre of the disc are two longer settings. Track 6 `When David heard' gradually and insistently builds over its 13 minute length with the repeated affirmation `my son'. Track 8 `Cloudburst' is the most ambitious composition here with voices rising from speech into song, eventually joined by the clapping, finger clicking and thigh tapping of the singers to stimulate a rainstorm. It works incredibly well.... Read more ›
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I hope it is not cultural imperialism if I express astonishment that music of such transcendent beauty could come from a son of Nevada and not perhaps an English cathedral city where you would hear some of the finest choral work sung every day. Eric Whitacre's writing here recalls that of John Rutter or even Arvo Paert, both deeply versed in the choral traditons of their own lands. The music has subtlety, a fine attention to text, maturity and emotional resonance which are all the more amazing from a young composer who came to choral music comparatively late. Most powerful I found were the first item, "i thank you God for most this amazing day" a setting of a poem by ee cummings and the Old Testament text "When David heard..", but the disc is wonderful throughout, and the performances by Polyphony under Stephen Layton flawless. Thank you Radio 3 for bringing this disc to my attention. Buy it.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 54 reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Cd
Great. Love it. Beautiful music performed brilliantly. Very relaxing. Can't stop playing it.Well done Eric Whitacre. A musical triumph and a must have.
Published 19 days ago by Jen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent service
Delighted with swift and effective service. Would recommend to any customer. Many thanks for your help. Hope to do business with you again.
Published 4 months ago by iona
2.0 out of 5 stars
Pretentious
It might be, and probably is, a highly technical piece of Choral work. Polyphony are well appreciated, but only choral buffs would get through a whole 40 minutes on high C.
Published 8 months ago by Mr. Derek F. Mcbride
1.0 out of 5 stars
Overrated
Having read several articles about Eric Whitacre and reviews of his music I decided that I ought to listen to it. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Peter Ludbrook
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunningly beautiful
The combination of Eric Whitacre's music and Polyphony conducted by Stephen Layton is such a joyful 'Hairs on the back of the neck experience' Whitacres dysonant chords are sung... Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2010 by Joycer
1.0 out of 5 stars
very annoying music
Well, I bought this because I had really enjoyed a couple of CD's of music by Morten Lauridsen, and some reviews made me think I would enjoy this too. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2010 by ab
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whitacre and Polyphony at their best
Eric Whitacre's 'Cloudburst' is my CD of choice for 2010. Listen to it and you'll know why.
Published on 28 Mar 2010 by R. A. Hinder
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful !
Highly recommend this CD, Whitacre is a brilliant composer and this CD is full of absolutely stunning music, from the ethereal 'Lux Aurumque' and the almost unbearable pain of... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by Deborah Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful album
Despite singing in a choir I hadn't come across the music of Eric Whitacre before, but recently heard one of the tracks on this album - "Water Night" - on the radio, and rushed out... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by D. Tindsley
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant find
This collection of fourteen unaccompanied choral pieces is a little gem. There is a purity and directness of expression with moments of complete ecstasy. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2009 by Mr. P. M. Lipman
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
