Magnum Mysterium 2: Sacred

This is not your typical copulation of sacred classical music however it covers an eclectic selection of choirs and monasteries from east to west. Lots of Gregorian Chants balanced with treatises for pipe organ and other medieval and renaissance chorus. I highly recommend it whether you are in the mood for spiritual contemplation or just want to listen to something classicaly religious.

A TREASURE TROVE OF EXCERPTS FROM RECORDINGS MADE BEFORE 1988!

MAGNUM MYSTERIUM II focuses on the sacred choral music of the 15th and 16th centuries drawing on the rich liturgical music heritage of both Catholic and Protestant rites, 400 years of sacred contemplative music are represented here, from the spectacular choral polyphony of 16th century Englishman Thomas Tallis to the exquisite 'Requiem' excerpt of 20th century Frenchman Maurice Durufle. This recording also includes some brilliant yet reflective organ interludes by Wm.Byrd and J.S. Bach.

This compilation was manufactured by Teldec Record Service Guild exclusively for Celestial Harmonies in 1988, and it is this date that captured my interest because that meant that there might be some 'gems' recorded prior to 1988 that are not easily accessible today. And it definitely turned out to be the case. Since there is not much information included on this listing of the CD's other than the selections themselves, I will list the performing groups and the number of their contributions: Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford/Simon Preston=three; Heinrich Schutz Choir/Roger Norrington=one; King's College Choir/Cleobury=four; King's College Choir/Willcocks=three; Pro Cantione Antiqua/Turner=one; Pro Cantione Antiqua/Brown=four; Alsfelder Vokalensemble/Helbich=one; Medieval Ensemble of London/Davies=one; The Alban Singers=three; St John's College Choir/Cambridge/Guest=four; The Consort of Musicke/Rooley=one. The solo organists are: Christopher Hogwood and Peter Hurford.

Some of my personal treasures that I gleaned from this remarkable compilation are: Monteverdi's 'Christe Redemptor' by Heinrich Schutz Choir; Lutheran Chorale(arr.Emery)'Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier' and Organ prelude from the same composition; Estevao De Brito's 'Crux fidelis'(excerpt) by Pro Cantione Antiqua; Antonio Vivaldi's 'Et in Terra Pax' from Gloria in D major, RV 588 by St. John's College Choir,Cambridge; Wm Byrd's 'Ave Verum Corpus' by Willcock's King's College Choir; and De Lassus's 'Psalmus Poenitentialis' V no. one by Christ Church Cathedral,Oxford. It is not that I do not already own most of these selections, it is just that these particular performances had something special about them that attracted me and I am so grateful that I found them!

If you are not averse to compilations or even if you are, just know that most of these selections are in and of themselves complete. It is a really excellent group of celestial harmonies. The CD's are accompanied only by a five page booklet that lists the selections and the performers and there is nothing else!

Excellent collection of Baroque and Renaissance sacred music. The quality of the performances is very high.