Classical Vocals CDs
Classical Vocals CDs
1514 products
Masters of the Renaissance / Gloriae dei Cantores
Ms. Patterson is a true choral alchemist, and never fails to draw truly golden sound and beautifully nuanced singing from her hard-working musicians. Sacred illumination is their mission, and they achieve it with spiritual sincerity and power."
—Lindsay Koob, American Record Guide
"Is it possible for a mixed choir of 44 voices to sing late Renaissance and early Baroque Flemish, Italian, German, and French anticopolyphony in an artistic, historically informed manner? Probably not very often – that is, unless the mixed choir in question is the Gloriae Dei Cantores. For them, the answer is an emphatic affirmative. This group sings with the clarity and control of a carefully drilled chamber ensemble a fifth their size. Phrasing, intonation, articulation, blend, and color are precisely thought out and perfectly executed."
—The American Organist
"This is quite an astonishing competitor to such celebrated ensembles as The Sixteen . . . This disc will greatly enlarge most collections of Renaissance motets with rare pieces of outstanding worth, sung with skill and devotion."
—J.F. Weber, Fanfare
The Chants of Mary / Gloriae Dei Cantores Men's Schola
This SACD features the Stabat Mater, the Marian antiphons for Compline, and selected propers from the Feasts of the Immaculate Conception, the Nativity of Mary, the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Assumption.
Argento: Walden Pond / Dale Warland Singers
This album was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance.
Eclipse: The Voice of Jean Langlais
Psalms of Salvation & Mercy / Patterson, Gloriae Dei Cantores
Anglican chant--a harmonized form of liturgical chanting, primarily of psalms--isn't like anything else in music. Although it's closer in style to speech than traditional monodic Gregorian chant, the harmonizations--and thus the requirement for a particular type of singing ensemble--removes it from the impersonal and functional to the realm of a more artistic, performance-conscious purpose. To sing Anglican chant--and especially to sing it properly--you need a choir of mixed voices who have mastered the myriad aspects and subtleties of phrasing, inflection, articulation, tonal balances, dynamics, and the often debatable rules of pointing, not to mention the necessities of coordinating with the supporting--and sometimes ornamented--organ accompaniment. Outside of British record shops or cathedral gift stores, you rarely see a recording of real live Anglican chant--certainly not on this side of the Atlantic--so it's refreshing to discover that the very fine Massachusetts-based Gloriae Dei Cantores, known for its many Gregorian chant recordings (among many other choral-music projects), has undertaken a three-volume series to explore, and hopefully expose new listeners to, this exceptional, unique, and affecting body of liturgical music.
There are 22 psalm settings covered here, by a wide range of composers writing in predominantly traditional styles--in other words, this volume doesn't contain any of the more recently-composed or harmonically "adventurous" settings some listeners will be familiar with. What we do get is the essence of Anglican chant sound and style--and thanks to the superb efforts of this very sensitive, responsive choir, its knowing director, and a pair of first-rate organists, we experience something of the uniquely expressive power inherent in this manner of psalm-singing, which in its most accomplished form allows phrases to flow and important individual words their full presence and meaning.
I was happy to hear several of my favorite settings--especially the Wesley for Psalms 42 and 43, the Goss for Psalm 11, and Aylward for Psalm 138--as well as many beautiful unfamiliar ones. I only wish that the choir and organ were recorded in a more favorable--that is, less noisy--acoustic. Perhaps a bit more distance, or a slight dampening or reconfiguring of the live, resonant space would help. At any rate, it's a treat to hear this music so well realized and enthusiastically sung (supported by some very nice organ work). I'm looking forward to volume 2!
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
OH FAIR TO SEE
Brothers Sing On! / Albinder, Washington Men's Camerata
Includes work(s) by Luca Pianca, Corinna Korff. Ensemble: Washington Memorial Pipes. Conductor: Frank Albinder.
Listen, Lord
The Call - A Concert for Veteran's Day / Willamette Master Chorus
This program honors those who have served in the armed forces of the United States of America. “The Call”, which was commissioned by the choir, is by Dave Metzger, widely known for his many arrangements and orchestrations for films such as Training Day, August Rush, Frozen and the Broadway production of The Lion King--for which he won a Tony Award. (Gothic)
New American Choral Music Series: William Bradley Roberts
Sounds of Light
Britten: War Requiem
A Festival Song
Reincarnations - Ives, Barber, Et Al / Dale Warland Singers
Let Us Sing Sweet Songs
Hymns Through The Centuries / Cathedral Choral Society
Includes work(s) by various composers. Ensemble: National Cathedral Choral Society Washington, D.C.. Conductor: J. Reilly Lewis.
With Heart & Voice / Brian Jones, Ross Wood, Trinity Choir
My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice
My Personal Bach
Anton Bruckner: Lieder; Chore; Magnificat
Brasiliade
Laudate Dominum
C.P.E. Bach: Magnificat; J.L. Bach: Missa Brevis / Rilling, Bach Collegium Stutrgart
Takemitsu: Songs
