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Leighton: Orchestral Works Vol 2 / Hickox, Fox, Bbc National Orchesta Of Wales, Et Al
Chandos

Leighton: Orchestral Works Vol 2 / Hickox, Fox, Bbc National Orchesta Of Wales, Et Al

$21.99

Details

Composer
LEIGHTON, KENNETH
Artist
Fox, Hickox
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Nov 18, 2008
Catalog #
CHAN 10495
UPC
095115149522

About

Richard Hickox conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in the second volume of Leighton's orchestral works. BBC Music Magazine wrote of volume 1, "Hickox directs superbly paced and eloquent performances of this fine music." Volume 2 presents two large-scale orchestral works, Symphony No.2 'Sinfonia Mistica', which receives its first recording; coupled with Te Deum Laudamus in its orchestrated version. One of the most successful British composers of the latter half of the twentieth century, Kenneth Leighton's lifelong musical relationship with the human voice, exemplified in the two works of this recording, began as a chorister in the choir of Wakefield Cathedral as a young boy. It was to impact greatly on his writing. Over the course of his life he wrote almost continually for the voice, absorbing vocal lines in all settings. It provided an excellent vehicle for some of his most lyrical and expressive writing. Leighton wrote three numbered symphonies. Symphony No.2 was composed in 1974 as a direct response to the death of his month, and Leighton referred to the work as a 'meditation on the subject of death.' Composed over six movements and approaching an hour in length Sinfonia Mistica contains some of Leighton's most personal and reactionary music, being at various times angry and emotional, yet serene and thoughtful. While he describes the symphony as a 'requiem' the conventional texts for this service are not employed, instead he used texts by John Donne, George Herbert and Henry King, poets who have been a constant source of inspiration to British composers. The original setting of Te Deum was written for choir and organ, but two years after its completion, Leighton received a request from the Oxford Bach Choir for an orchestral version of the work, which was completed in 1966. Scored for chorus and full orchestra it is an imaginative setting of what is a liturgical text of praise, and written in honour of St Cecilia. This climatic work contains some of Leighton's most enduring and significant music. Chandos has received widespread appreciation for embarking on this revelatory new orchestral series. Volume 3 will be released in spring 2009. Also available: Volume 1: CHAN 10461

Tracklist 7 tracks

  1. 1 I. Sonnet 06:16
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Sonnet
    Duration
    06:16
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Sarah Fox
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  2. 2 II. Scherzo 08:51
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Scherzo
    Duration
    08:51
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Sarah Fox
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  3. 3 III. Meditation 06:53
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Meditation
    Duration
    06:53
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Sarah Fox
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  4. 4 IV. Elegy 07:11
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Elegy
    Duration
    07:11
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Sarah Fox
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  5. 5 V. Scherzo II, "Sic vita" 03:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Scherzo II, "Sic vita"
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Sarah Fox
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  6. 6 VI. Finale 16:27
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Finale
    Duration
    16:27
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Sarah Fox
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  7. 7 Te Deum Laudamus 08:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    Te Deum Laudamus
    Duration
    08:44
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Sarah Fox, Gareth Rhys-Davies
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox