IN NO STRANGE LAND – CHORAL MUSIC BY MARTIN BUSSEY
Sonoro, Michael Higgins, organ, Neil Ferris, conductor
RESONUS RES10251 70’29
This is a beautiful CD collecting a range of sacred choral music by this former Kings College, Cambridge Choral Scholar who has been active in a range of vocal musical activity for many years. Texts range from the Song of the Nuns of Chester and Robert Southwell’s The Burning Babe to Jesu, pro me perforates (a Latin translation of Toplady’s Rock of Ages) and Oscar Wilde’s version of Ave Maria. As with previous recordings from Sonoro sound quality and expression is superb.
O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD – CHORAL WORKS BY THOMAS TOMKINS
The Choir of HM Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace
Rufus Frowde, organ, Carl Jackson, conductor
RESONUS RES10253 74’25
This collection sensitively presents a lovely selection of music by this former Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and Composer of the King’s Musick in an appropriate setting by a very appropriate choir. Alongside two sets of Preces & Responses and Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis there are verse-anthems, four part psalms and organ pieces.
PALESTRINA LAMENTATIONS- BOOK 2
Cinquecento Rennaisance Vokal
HYPERION CDA68284 72’11
This music has been with us for a long time and yet here it comes fresh out of the speakers. From Palestrina’s prolific and masterful work here are settings for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
SCHUTZ- THE CHRISTMAS STORY
Yale Schola Cantorum and instrumentalists, David Hill, conductor
HYPERION CDA68315 71’13
The text of the accompanying booklet describes the working situation of Schutz as in some ways similar to that of JS Bach a century later. Alongside what is probably his most enduring and celebrated work there are also here shorter German and Latin Christmas settings including a (not just for Christmas!) Ave Maria and Magnificat.
GOTTFRIED AUGUST HOMILIUS – SIEHE, DER HERR KOMMT – CHRISTMAS & ADVENT CANTATAS
Hanna Herfurtner, sop, Franziska Gottwald, alto, Georg Poplutz, tenor, Mauro Borgioni, bass
Kolner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens
CPO 555 278-2 66’13
It is interesting that this repertoire follows on chronologically with the Protestant German repertoire of the CD above. This music is far less familiar by far and it is good to see this material presented in this way. A good addition to the recorded Christmas repertoire.
JOHANN PACHELBEL – COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS III
Michael Belotti, organ of St Walpurgis, Grossengottern
Christian Schmidt, organs of Klosterkirche, Rheinau & St Cyriakus, Duderstadt
James David Christie, organ of Crucis-Kirche, Erfut
CPO 777 558-2 (3 SACD) 189’34
This latest volume of the thorough exploration of the complete keyboard music of Pachelbel concentrates on liturgical organ music. The works here are divided over three disks each with a different organist and organ(s) and dividing them into works derived from Passion hymns, Psalms and Chorale partitas. Each historic organ is chosen to be appropriate to the particular material and the organists are clearly at home with their repertoire and setting. These discs can be played on a standard CD but are also in SACD format.
GIOVANNI BATTISTA SAMMARTINI – HARPSICHORD SONATAS
Simonetta Heger, harpsichord (Mascheroni, after Christian Vater, Hannover 1720)
DYNAMIC CDS7841 62’36
There seems to be a resurgence of interest in harpsichord music of late with many recordings of works only available in manuscript or in obscure printed editions being brought to the fore. As with many early keyboard composers there is much to entrance the ear in terms of tonality and rhythm as well as often virtuosic technique. Simonetta Heger does a good job here to introduce us to these 18 sonatas from a prolific but less remembered composer.
MALCYS & VASKS – BALTIC INSPIRATION – PIANO QUARTETS
Ippolitov-Ivanov Piano Quartet
Naxos 8.574073 66’49
This was a very surprising disk. I was immediately drawn into this music so satisfyingly played by the Quartet. The Latvian & Lithuanian composers were both unknown to me. All the music dates from the turn of the last century. Peteris Vasks’ Piano Quartet (2001) balances beautifully the three separate descriptive pieces by Arvydas Malcys Blackthorn Eyes (1999-2004), Hyacinth of the Snowfields (2012) and Milky Way (2002-12) which arranged together here have the effect of another piano quartet.
HER VOICE – PIANO TRIOS BY FARRENC, BEACH & CLARKE
Neave Trio
CHANDOS CHAN 20139 72’04
Three piano trios, chronologically sequenced, each composed by a female composer, whose names we thankfully now know and respect. Excellent music, which deserves to be better known, expertly played. Whilst continuing to welcome such releases let us all hope and work for the time when it is no longer necessary to programme a CD by the gender of the composers in order to right a wrong that still persists.
BLISS – MARY OF MAGDALA; THE ENCHANTRESS;
MEDITATIONS ON A THEME BY JOHN BLOW
Dame Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano, James Platt, bass
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Andrew Davis, conductor
CHANDOS CHSA 5242 76’58
Here are three contrasting works of Bliss’ later years. The two vocal pieces set Greek pastoral poetry and words from St John’s Gospel. The theme in question is Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd. The programming of these three pieces makes for a satisfying experience, highlighting the inventiveness and flexibility of Bliss, still an underappreciated composer.
SP