Tavener: Ex Maria Virgine, Angels, Etc / Brown, Berkieta, Jacobs, Clare College Choir, Et Al

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TAVENER Ex Maria virgine. Birthday Sleep. O Do Not Move. A Nativity. Marienhymne. O Thou Gentle Light. Angels • Timothy Brown, dir; Clare College Cambridge Ch • NAXOS 8.572168 (63:46 Text and Translation)


Two of the selections are first recordings: Ex Maria virgine , the major work at 38 minutes, and Marienhymne . The other works are not widely available, for Birthday Sleep was recorded by Stephen Layton (28:4), A Nativity by Matthew Greenall (not issued over here), and Angels by David Hill (23: 2). I cannot find the first recordings of the other two pieces.


Marienhymne is sung in German, while O Thou Gentle Light is sung in Greek (the ancient hymn Phos hiláron , which Dom Lucien David also set as a neo-Gregorian chant). The earliest work on the program, Angels , dates from 1985.


The major work is a setting of nine age-old texts in Latin or English separated by a refrain, “Ex Maria virgine,” the first movement being repeated at the end. One movement has a Greek refrain, the original of “hail, Mary,” but the first word is pronounced “kay-ray” rather than “ky-ruh.” The composer has a devoted following, so these accomplished performances will delight them.


FANFARE: J. F. Weber


Product Description:

  • Release Date: November 18, 2008


  • Catalog Number: 8572168


  • UPC: 747313216871


  • Label: Naxos


  • Number of Discs: 1


  • Composer: John Tavener


  • Conductor: Timothy Brown


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Cambridge Clare College Choir


  • Performer: James McVinnie, Simon Jacobs, Stefan Berkieta