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Track Listings
| 1. Magnificant and Nume dimittis in A flat, Op. 65 |
| 2. Missa in honorem Sancti Dominici |
| 3. Prelude and Fugue for Organ , Op. 69 |
| 4. Tenebrae Motets, Op. 72 - First Nocturn |
| 5. Tenebrae Motets, Op. 72 - Second Nocturn |
| 6. Tenebrae Motets, Op. 72 - Third Nocturn |
| 7. Meditation for Organ, Op. 79 |
| 8. Missa Cantuariensis, Op. 59 |
Product Description
Review
This disc makes a stronger case for Rubbra than anything else I've heard - stronger even than any of Chandos's fine recordings of the 11 symphonies. Those who find that they can respect Rubbra the symphonist without warming to him (or who are simply put off by his unglamorous orchestral writing) may well find his religious choral music more compelling. There's the same quality of vision, but expressed with a concentration and simplicity which often mask subtle craftsmanship. Outstanding here are the Missa in honorem Sancti Dominici (Mass in honour of St Dominic) and the Nine Tenebrae Responses - both, significantly, written after Rubbra's mid-life conversion to Roman Catholicism. The Mass glances towards the great Tudor church composers Rubbra admired so much, but without nostalgia or self-conscious archaism - even Vaughan Williams's much better-known Mass in G minor can sound mannered after this. In the Tenebrae settings (meditations on Christ's sufferings for Maundy Thursday), Rubbra places his music at the service of the words in a way which movingly underlines both their human and mystical significance - and yet again it's done with such telling economy. The St John's choristers are excellent, and they sound as though they believe in every note. Recordings too could hardly be bettered - spacious, bright and clear.
Performance *****
Sound *****
© BBC Music Magazine 2001
Product Description
CD Composer: Rubbra,Edmund
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The music of Edmund Rubbra has been undergoing a considerable rennaissance over the last few years, at least on CD, and a substantial part of his very large output is now available. The choral music has come last in this process, which is strange considering its outstanding quality.
This disc has two of his larger masses, the wonderful Tenebrae nocturnes, the Nunc dimittis and Magnificat and a couple of solo organ pieces, of which only the Meditation was originally written for the organ. The St Dominici mass was written in 1948 after his acceptance into the Catholic Church and is an austere but beautiful setting and has been recorded several times. The Canterbury Mass was written for Canterbury Cathedral. The Credo in this has an organ accompaniment, giving it a grandeur in contrast to the other movements. The Tenebrae Nocturnes are magnificent, even if some are bleak. The tiny Meditation is nevertheless lovely and it is good to have it.
It is all beautifully sung and recorded. An indispensible CD for lovers of English church music.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
The advantage of being a choir that sings seven services a week is obvious on this disk. The sound produced is beautifully blended, especially with the trebles, whilst retaining an intensity that other choirs, such as that of King's College, sometimes lack. I found the Tenebrae Motets, which were entirely new to me, especially effective. As with the rest of this series, direction, recorded sound and price are all excellent.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Aquinas
Format:Audio CD
This series of English Choral music is excellent. I have listened to the CD on a number of occasions and on each occasion, I find myself unable to put my finger on where Rubbra's music belongs in the history of music - At times, it seems modern, at other times like renaissance music. Great music? Probably not. But, I am no expert!
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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