Voces8
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Marcello: Psalms (Sung in English)
A Purcell Collection / Voces8, Les Inventions
PURCELL Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. To the Hills and Vales. By the Beauteous Softness Mix’d with Majesty. O God, Thou art my God. How Happy the Lover. What Power Thou Art. Behold, O Mightiest of Gods. My Heart is Inditing of a Good Matter. Bid the Virtues. Hail! Bright Cecilia. Strike the Viol. Thou Knowest Lord the Secrets of Our Hearts. Fairest Isle. Full Fathom Five • Voces8; Les Inventions; Andrea Haines, Emily Dickens (s); Barnaby Smith (ct); Samuel Dressel (t); Dingle Yandell (bs) • SIGNUM 2975 (70:18)
Voces8 is an (of course) eight-member group whose repertoire ranges from “Renaissance polyphony to unique jazz and pop arrangements.” Here they are joined with the distinguished French-based instrumental group Les Inventions. Together they have put together a kind of anthology of Purcell’s music that they charmingly describe as a stroll through his world. It’s more than that. We hear a particularly lovely rendition by the voices of Purcell’s unaccompanied dirge Thou Knowest, Lord, a gracious performance by countertenor Barnaby Smith of Purcell’s praise for Queen Mary, By Beauteous Softness Mix’d with Majesty (with a text by the oft-reviled Thomas Shadwell), and a comical What Power Thou Art. In this piece, nicknamed The Cold Song, bass Dingle Yandell impersonates the spirit of Britain being reluctantly awakened from a frosty slumber. One can virtually hear his teeth chatter. The choral pieces are just as effective, and the instrumental playing, including the oboe obbligato in Bid the Virtues, is lovely as well. There is spirit here when it is called for, and pathos as well. Although such definitive pieces as “Dido’s Lament” are not here, this collection would be an excellent introduction to Purcell as a reminder of his range for those whose know him well.
FANFARE: Michael Ullman
Bach: Motets / Voces8
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - MOTETS VOCES8SENESINO PLAYERS JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - MOTETSSINGET DEM HERRN EIN NEUES LIED, BWV 225FURCHTE DICH NICHT, ICH BIN BEI DIR, BWV 228LOBET DEN HERRN, ALLE HEIDEN, BWV 230JESU, MEINE FREUDE, BWV 227KOMM, JESU, KOMM, BWV 229DER GEIST HILFT UNCER SCHWACHHEIT AUF, BWV 226
Aces High / Voces8
VARIOUS VOCES8 ACES HIGHTracks: Goldeneye; Slap That Bass; What A Difference A Day Makes; Good Vibrations; Dream A Little Dream Of Me; Feeling Good; Anything Goes; From Russia With Love; Cloudy; Losing My Mind; Mack The Knife; Love Of My Life; For Your Eyes Only/You Only Live Twice;Thunderball; Smooth Criminal; Nobody Does It Better.
A Choral Tapestry / Voces8
Christmas / Voces8
The international award-winning octet, VOCES8, has established itself at the forefront of British a cappella. Performing a repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique Jazz and Pop arrangements, the group has been praised for stunning performance, exquisite singing and creating a sound that spans the entire range of vocal color.
REVIEW:
Voces8 offer polished and well-nigh flawless singing. The tone, however, seems rather ‘white’; frequently I found myself longing for a bit less studied technical perfection and a bit more by way of grit and feeling; much of this disc seems too smooth and effortless.
-- MusicWeb International
