Ex oriente lux - the musical light from Eastern Europe shines in a calm yet incredibly powerful way. Traditional a capella choral music here has gone its own way for centuries and has not been directly dependent on the development of secular music. Especially striking is the renunciation of the...more
"Geistige Vertiefung, musikalische Intensität und inneres Feuer kennzeichnen den Gesang von 'Carmina Mundi'" (Pizzicato)
Details
Ex Oriente Lux - Choir masterpieces | |
article number: | 97.475 |
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EAN barcode: | 4022143974754 |
price group: | BCH |
release date: | 1. January 2001 |
total time: | 64 min. |
Informationen
Ex oriente lux - the musical light from Eastern Europe shines in a calm yet incredibly powerful way. Traditional a capella choral music here has gone its own way for centuries and has not been directly dependent on the development of secular music. Especially striking is the renunciation of the elements of leading-tone tension and cadential harmony so characteristic of Western major-minor tonality. Historical developments have not passed Eastern European church music by without a trace, of course - many innovations, strongly modified, have been adapted to the liturgically influenced context by well-known composers such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Arvo Pärt and Krzysztof Penderecki. From this process, very attractive choral works have seen the light of day, especially in recent years, from which several have been impressively realised here from the standpoint of sound quality.
Following pioneering releases such as the first complete recording of Hugo Distler's Mörike Choral Song Book, the Carmina Mundi Chamber Choir continues to set new standards of excellence in choral music production with this recording.
Reviews
Frankenpost | 22./23. Juli 2006, 200. Jg/169 | Michael Thumser | July 22, 2006 Licht von Osten gegen Russlands Schwermut
Der Russe Sergej Rachmaninow hat sich schon viel vorwerfen lassen müssen.Mehr lesen
American Record Guide | July/August 2002 | Donald E. Metz | July 1, 2002
I tend to be skeptical when a line on a jewel box reads "A must for every ..."I was pleasantly surprised to hear this and confess that the phraseMehr lesen
I'll bet many readers who sang in their high school choir will remember Nystedt for his 'Cry Out and Shout'. The 'Adoro Te' is interesting in that the opening chord, heard note by note from bottom up, spells the overtone series. Karal's piece is a bit more modem in its combination of sung and spoken passages, and its whole choir glissandos here and there. But like so many of these pieces, the opening aggressiveness and angularity gives way to a relaxed, melodic conclusion with welcome diatonic harmony (Bardu or Eben, for example). Sisask's composition pits male voices against the female sections with chant-like episodes that reflect the religious origins of all these selections.
Penderecki's contribution is probably the most challenging work here, a mixture of harmonized chant passages contrasted with dissonant and forceful sections. One piece that could easily become popular for listeners and singers alike is the concluding Popovici piece. It is simple, diatonic, and allows the sopranos to carry the thematic material while being supported by the rest of the choir. It's a little gem. While I wish the basses had more presence in the Russian selections (cadences cry out for the lower octave), this is an outstanding choir. The balance is good and the pitch accuracy excellent. This should garner a wide listening population, to include school choir directors along with professional ensembles.
klassik.com | 22.03.2002 | Dirk Jaehner | March 22, 2002
Aus dem Osten kommt das Licht. 'Ex oriente lux' heißt eine CD desMehr lesen
Cantate | 5/2001 | gk | September 1, 2001 Östliche Klangmystik
Musik und Mystik der Ostkirche stellen ein immer wieder faszinierendesMehr lesen
Pizzicato | 09/2001 | Rémy Franck | September 1, 2001 Schwebender Chorgesang
In sehr engagierten Interpretationen singt der Kammerchor 'Carmina Mundi' geistliche Musik von Knut Nystedt, Györgi Orban, Serge Rachmaninov, ArvoMehr lesen
Geistige Vertiefung, musikalische Intensität und inneres Feuer kennzeichnen den Gesang von 'Carmina Mundi', einem Chor, der in Harald Nickoll einen Leiter hat, dem es darum geht, die Musik abheben und schweben zu lassen. Da gibt es nur eines: Augen schließen und mit schweben....
Aachener Nachrichten | 11. Juli 2001 | Christoph Hahn | July 11, 2001
Eine Expedition in neue Klanggebiete
Carmina mundi: Aachener Chor legt neue CD vor
Aachen. Wenn es um A-Cappella-Musik geht, macht den Sängerinnen undMehr lesen
Online Musik Magazin | 01.02.2001 | Ralf Jochen Ehresmann Erleuchtung a capella
Das label 'audite' hat knapp 66 Minuten Musik vorgelegt, in denen derMehr lesen
News
Aus dem Osten kommt das Licht. 'Ex oriente lux' heißt eine CD des Kammerchores...
I tend to be skeptical when a line on a jewel box reads "A must for every ..."I...