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Officium

~ Jan Garbarek, Garbarek/Hilliard Ensemble
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
Price: £12.48 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
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Officium + Mnemosyne + Twelve Moons
Price For All Three: £36.24

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  • This item: Officium ~ Cristóbal de Morales

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    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Mnemosyne ~ Hilliard Ensemble

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    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Twelve Moons ~ Jan Garbarek

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Product details

  • Performer: Jan Garbarek
  • Orchestra: Hilliard Ensemble
  • Composer: Cristóbal de Morales, Anonymous, Pierre de La Rue, Pérotin
  • Audio CD (5 Sep 1994)
  • SPARS Code: DDD
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: ECM New Series
  • ASIN: B000025IL0
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,689 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Music > Jazz > Avant-garde > Saxophone
    #3 in  Music > Jazz > Instruments > Saxophone
    #3 in  Music > Jazz > Folk Jazz

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
1. Parce Mihi Domine
2. Primo Tenpore
3. Sanctus
4. Regnantem Sempiterna
5. O Salutaris Hostia
6. Procedentem Sponsum
7. Pulcherrima Rosa
8. Parce Mihi Domine (2)
9. Beata Viscera
10. De Spineto Nata Rosa
11. Credo
12. Ave Maris Stella
13. Virgo Flagellatur
14. Oratio Leremiae
On this CD:
  1. Parce mihi domine
    Composed by Cristóbal de Morales
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  2. Primo tempore
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  3. Sanctus
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  4. Regnantem sempiterna
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  5. O salutaris hostia
    Composed by Pierre de La Rue
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  6. Procedentem sponsum
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  7. Pulcherrima rosa
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  8. Beata viscera
    Composed by Pérotin
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  9. De spineto nata rosa
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  10. Credo
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  11. Ave maris stella
    Composed by Guillaume Dufay
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  12. Virgo flagellatur
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble
    with Jan Garbarek

  13. Oratio Ieremiae
    Composed by Anonymous
    Performed by Hilliard Ensemble

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

"What is this music?" Fundamentally, it's an exploration of what happens when an improvisatory instrumental voice (saxophone) is placed into the world of early vocal music, which has elements of both improvisation and formal structure. In reality, it's an adventure in which the four male voices of the Hilliard Ensemble travel the 14th and 15th-century territory of Morales and Dufay, visit the 12th-century Pérotin and roam even earlier ages of plainchant, accompanied by the always sensitive and tasteful, often astonishing, saxophone improvisations of jazz master Jan Garbarek. Sometimes, these new melodies simply accompany; sometimes they transform the common--a routine minor chord, for instance--into a sublime, indescribable moment. The answer to the above question is easy, but it's different for each listener. --David Vernier

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
76 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, 24 Sep 2002
On paper the idea for this recording would have made an interesting suggestion- Norwegian modern jazz saxophone player meets English vocal quartet, and use medieval to renaissance sacred choral music as the basis of improvisation. Jan Garbarek has made a lot of CD's in his time signed to ECM, and these have, in my opinion, a wide range of success. Some recordings are often quite cliched and cheesy. This CD is possibly the best he has made. Possibly one of the best anyone will ever make.

The mood of the singers is dramatically sombre. There is a distinctly pure tone. There is no vibrato, no fast pieces. In the monastery where this was recorded there is a lot of reverb. This all leads to the transcendental effect of the music, it really feels as if some of the peace of the monastery has been captured and held in the music. A semi-lethargic quality is provided, in that we feel as if the music freezes us in time, or perhaps draws us out of time. The sound quality is perfect, we feel drawn out of life, and even provided with a different perspective of life, though more of a detachment from it. The singing operates in this fantastic manner, at once peaceful and dramatic, at once disturbing, awe-inspiring, and comforting. Added to this is the sax.

In the pieces where the sax provides a melody line it interweaves beautifully, involving itself with the singing, then dancing away, at times sympathising with the singers, at other times mocking them with bizarre super impositions. One minute identifying with the music, the next dancing away carelessly. Where the singing operates on a transcendental level, the sax seems to operate on all other levels, free from the necessary restrain of the singers. Where the music of the singing is too dramatic the sax detaches us carelessly. Where the sax provides the pedal it almost operates a reversal of the roles, allowing David James' sublime countertenor take the melodic role.

This music can be listened to at all times. However, on first getting it, dim some lights, feel at peace, put it on in as much surround as possible. You have a heart of stone if shivers aren't sent up your spine, or you are forced to tears.

This review may sound a bit over the top, but reserve judgement until you have heard it. It changed much of my musical thinking.

Its just quite good, y' know?

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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Medieval meets Modern, 29 Mar 2000
By A Customer
I bought the CD on the basis of hearing one track (Parce Domine) in the car on the way to work one morning. I found that track absolutely riveting. Most of the rest of collection is equally arresting with one or two exceptions where in my opinion the saxophone is not sympathetic to the choral work, and is quite jarring. On the whole, one to keep coming back to.
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41 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing, 23 Aug 2000
By A Customer
This is music that makes you stop and listen, an extraordinary blend of ancient and modern. Garbarek's sax improvisations are amazing and take this music well beyond the ordinary. If you're looking for something just that bit different, try it.
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Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Mournful yet uplifting
Officium
I'm not good at eloquent descriptions, I can't explain this in technical terms, but I'll try and convey my feelings about this work. Read more
Published 3 months ago by TekPete

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautyful, yes. But one-dimensional, too
This album was bound to produce such opposing reactions. Look at the other reviews: It's either five stars or one. Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. Severidt

1.0 out of 5 stars What a waste!
I can see how sax fans find this album a revelation but it is a stain on the track record of the Hilliard Ensemble. Read more
Published 16 months ago by PPJ Heuschen

1.0 out of 5 stars nauseating
This takes the cherries out of two cakes and leaves the cakes behind. They are glace cherries. Horribly sweet.
Published 18 months ago by S. S. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars The sound of perfection
There are moments in life when you can become speechless,I have always liked the ethos of the ECM label,and in the the vast majority of albums they release hit such a standard... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Finbar the looney

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful sounds.
The first track on this CD takes my breath away every time I hear it. It really is stunningly beautiful. Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2007 by M. S Worthington

5.0 out of 5 stars It's how music makes you feel that really matters.Officium makes me feel just great!
While driving over the dreamy mountains of Leek and Buxton, I was fretting over whether or not I would get enough time to finish the job of laying a floor for my present demanding... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2006 by Mr. P. manning

1.0 out of 5 stars No.
Someone has to counteract the blanket praise for this awful project. Never a gifted musician (he damn near wrecked Gary Peacock's otherwise fine 'Guamba', for example), Jan... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
I'm not a music specialist, but I love this album. It's music which helps you order the thoughts of the day and while doing so draws you thoroughly into the quite magical sax... Read more
Published on 31 Jul 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent mixture of vocals & Sax
This is something very special, a choir aligned to a saxaphone played by Jan Garabarek, this initially does not sound as if it would work, but it is a recording to just sit back... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2000

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Officium
87% buy the item featured on this page:
Officium 3.7 out of 5 stars (13)
£12.48
Mnemosyne
8% buy
Mnemosyne 3.7 out of 5 stars (9)
£15.78
Twelve Moons
2% buy
Twelve Moons 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£7.98
In Praise of Dreams
1% buy
In Praise of Dreams 3.7 out of 5 stars (7)
£9.98
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