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Track Listings
| 1. Miserere - Opus 44 |
| 2. Opus 35 |
| 3. Euntes Ibant Et Flebant - Opus 32 |
| 4. Wislo Moja, Wislo Szara (My Vistula, Grey Vistula) - Opus 46 |
| 5. Szeroka Woda (Broad Waters) - Opus 39 - Lento Malinconico |
| 6. Szeroka Woda - Non Troppo |
| 7. Szeroka Woda - Molto Lento - Dolce Cantabile |
| 8. Szeroka Woda - Lento Sostenuto |
| 9. Szeroka Woda - Maestoso Espressivo |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I write this saddened by the knowledge that Gorecki is no longer here, but thankful that he has left some memorable music as his testament. To my mind, this, along with his compelling 3rd Symphony, are two such pieces. The Miserere was written during Polish unrest in 1981, when under the yoke of the Soviet Union. For unaccompanied choir, it is an atmospheric, intense and utterly compelling piece. The work begins in layered thirds until the dynamic climax is sung in ten parts: emotionally compelling, and highly addictive.
The other pieces have less intensity, but their greater simplicity is expressive and measured, and richly melodic.The recording is warm, but a little cloudy, so only 4 stars. Well recommended.(Penguin Guide ***) If you are unfamiliar with the 3rd Symphony, an outstanding bargain is Górecki - Symphony No 3; Olden Style Pieces
The other pieces have less intensity, but their greater simplicity is expressive and measured, and richly melodic.The recording is warm, but a little cloudy, so only 4 stars. Well recommended.(Penguin Guide ***) If you are unfamiliar with the 3rd Symphony, an outstanding bargain is Górecki - Symphony No 3; Olden Style Pieces
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having visited Auschwitz some eight years ago, I was able to return to that place in my inner mind when I played his special symphony. Gorecki's music is authentic in that, as I understand it, he sat outside the camp on the ground letting the 'soil' run through his hands. And he remarked on the stillness and what everyone notices - the dearth of small birds. It is inevitable that this CD has echoes of this work and is both startling and contemplative. His music is appropriate for a very sacred space. That place where we all meditate. And, his music is deeply, emotional.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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13 reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Power of the Human Voice in Concert: Hope for Brotherhood
23 Feb 2005
Format:Audio CD
Henryk Gorecki is able to achieve so much power and transcendence with so very little that his music for unaccompanied chorus stands as a metaphor for we as the global community cold achieve if we believed in the motivation that soars through this selection of music.
MISERERE is a stunning work, a response to the political upheaval in Poland that surrounded the United Peasant Party in 1981 when members of the Rural Solidarity were slaughtered by the militia. In response to this Gorecki immediately composed this work for large unaccompanied chorus which for the first thirty minutes intones the words 'Domine Deus Noster' (Lord our God), first by massive male voices intoning, plea-like, then joined by women's voices in agitation and ultimate reverence, adding only are the very end the words 'Miserere nobis' (have mercy on us). If any listener fails to be moved by this quiet, urgent, sonorous plea for peace, then we as a universal people have much work to do!
Appropriately, MISERERE is followed by a performance of Gorecki's AMEN. Again, this work does not change key, uses only the single word 'Amen' as text, but packs so much power and finally closes with the choral forces closing the 'n' in sustained echo. Following the simplicity of this six-minute work is Gorecki's first work composed for unaccompanied voices - the Psalms setting titled EUTES IBANT ET FLEBANT and is reminiscent of the mood of his now famous "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs". And dating back to the year of MISERERE is his setting of 'My Vistula, Grey Vistula', a brief but compelling setting of the folk music of Poland.
The final work on this very fine recording is a secular setting of Polish folksongs SZEROKA WODA, charming in its simplicity and unfettered by complicated messages or writing.
The Chigago Symphony Chorus and the Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus are impeccably conducted by John Nelson for the first four works and the Polish Folksongs are performed by the Lira Chamber Chorus conducted by Lucy Ding. The sound of the recording is resonant and rich and I must admit that the music speaks so strongly on this recording that I was not hampered by the extraneous sounds mentioned by other reviewers. And there may be a message there about priorities and responses... Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, February 2005
MISERERE is a stunning work, a response to the political upheaval in Poland that surrounded the United Peasant Party in 1981 when members of the Rural Solidarity were slaughtered by the militia. In response to this Gorecki immediately composed this work for large unaccompanied chorus which for the first thirty minutes intones the words 'Domine Deus Noster' (Lord our God), first by massive male voices intoning, plea-like, then joined by women's voices in agitation and ultimate reverence, adding only are the very end the words 'Miserere nobis' (have mercy on us). If any listener fails to be moved by this quiet, urgent, sonorous plea for peace, then we as a universal people have much work to do!
Appropriately, MISERERE is followed by a performance of Gorecki's AMEN. Again, this work does not change key, uses only the single word 'Amen' as text, but packs so much power and finally closes with the choral forces closing the 'n' in sustained echo. Following the simplicity of this six-minute work is Gorecki's first work composed for unaccompanied voices - the Psalms setting titled EUTES IBANT ET FLEBANT and is reminiscent of the mood of his now famous "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs". And dating back to the year of MISERERE is his setting of 'My Vistula, Grey Vistula', a brief but compelling setting of the folk music of Poland.
The final work on this very fine recording is a secular setting of Polish folksongs SZEROKA WODA, charming in its simplicity and unfettered by complicated messages or writing.
The Chigago Symphony Chorus and the Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus are impeccably conducted by John Nelson for the first four works and the Polish Folksongs are performed by the Lira Chamber Chorus conducted by Lucy Ding. The sound of the recording is resonant and rich and I must admit that the music speaks so strongly on this recording that I was not hampered by the extraneous sounds mentioned by other reviewers. And there may be a message there about priorities and responses... Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, February 2005
41 of 45 people found the following review helpful
A triumph and yet a pity
29 July 1999
Format:Audio CD
On this disc, the Chicago Symphony and Opera Choruses explore three powerful sacred works by this remarkably tranquil composer whilst the Lira Chamber Chorus looks at secular works in his native language. As far as the singing and direction goes, this is a brilliant performance- attuned to the passion and the detail in the music. Although these works are not without their problems- "Miserere" is half an hour long, and "Amen" and "Euntes ibant" both feature harmonies that are (to say the least) harrowing on the ear and on the mind- they are a fine selection indeed. However, if I were Gorecki I would be ready to throttle the producers: the recording is cluttered with background noise such as a door slamming, a heavy vehicle passing (to say nothing about the constant 'dripping' sound that comes through the music particularly early on). Were it not for this, this disc would have my highest recommendation. Nonetheless, I will say that for those who can 'digest' it, this is pure and austere music that is simply written and sensitively performed. In particular, I find "Wislo Moja, Wislo Szara" to be wonderfully haunting and very reflective of the troubled country from which it originates.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Bumps, Crashes and Beautiful music
1 July 2004
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Beautiful singing. It's unfortunate that some poor guy was made to fold chairs in the room throughout the entire recording. I only wish this was an exaggeration. Listening in the car may alleviate some of the problem . . .
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