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The Darkest Midnight - Winter Songs from Medieval to Modern / Papagena
SOMM Recordings

The Darkest Midnight - Winter Songs from Medieval to Modern / Papagena

$20.99

Details

Composer
VARIOUS
Artist
Papagena
Format
CD
Label
SOMM Recordings
Released
Nov 16, 2018
Catalog #
SOMMCD 0189
UPC
748871018921

About

The all-female vocal ensemble Papagena makes its debut on SOMM Recordings with The Darkest Midnight, a sublime collection of songs for winter from the Middle Ages to the modern era embracing the secular and the sacred. Described as “a stunning addition to the vocal music scene” and “la crème de la crème in the crowded a cappella space”, Papagena’s three sopranos (Elizabeth Drury, Abbi Temple, Suzie Vango) and two altos (Suzzie Purkis, Sarah Tenant-Flowers) look certain to add to their fast-growing reputation with this beautifully sung compendium. Casting a dark glamour all of its own, the bleakness of winter has prompted some of the most bewitching, brittle and bright songs. Alongside traditional Christmas anthems can be found legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s ‘The River’ in an achingly melancholic arrangement and American composer Don Macdonald, whose When the Earth Stands Still is movingly poignant and still, twilit and shining. Celebratory songs marking the Christmas season – the exuberant In dulci Jubilo, burnished, glowing harmonies of Angelus ad virginem, sublimely serene Es ist ein Ros entsprungen and infectious Shchedryk/Hark How the Bells from Ukraine – are heard alongside lilting Irish songs from antiquity and the charming Scottish lullaby Balulalow. Songs from England, Germany, Norway and ‘Toi le coeur de la rose’ from Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges round off a recording that includes first performances of eight arrangements and is marked by sheer beauty of sound.

Tracklist 19 tracks

  1. 1 Don oiche ud i mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem) (arr. S. Vango) 03:29
    Track
    1
    Title
    Don oiche ud i mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem) (arr. S. Vango)
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  2. 2 Maria durch ein Dornwald ging (arr. P. Pawson) 03:32
    Track
    2
    Title
    Maria durch ein Dornwald ging (arr. P. Pawson)
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  3. 3 Nowell, Tidings True There Be Come New 02:13
    Track
    3
    Title
    Nowell, Tidings True There Be Come New
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  4. 4 O Jesulein zart (arr. W. Brückner) 04:00
    Track
    4
    Title
    O Jesulein zart (arr. W. Brückner)
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  5. 5 A Nativity 02:28
    Track
    5
    Title
    A Nativity
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    John Tavener
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  6. 6 Shchedryk (Hark How the Bells) (adap. P.J. Wihousky and arr. E. Drury) 02:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    Shchedryk (Hark How the Bells) (adap. P.J. Wihousky and arr. E. Drury)
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  7. 7 Balulalow (arr. S. Vango) 04:46
    Track
    7
    Title
    Balulalow (arr. S. Vango)
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  8. 8 The River (arr. J. Clements) 05:49
    Track
    8
    Title
    The River (arr. J. Clements)
    Duration
    05:49
    Composer
    Joni Mitchell
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  9. 9 L'enfant et les sortileges: Toi, le coeur de la rose (arr. C. Gottwald for vocal ensemble) 02:38
    Track
    9
    Title
    L'enfant et les sortileges: Toi, le coeur de la rose (arr. C. Gottwald for vocal ensemble)
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Maurice Ravel
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  10. 10 Angelus ad Virginem 04:14
    Track
    10
    Title
    Angelus ad Virginem
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  11. 11 Sancta Mater Graciae - Dou way Robin 03:53
    Track
    11
    Title
    Sancta Mater Graciae - Dou way Robin
    Duration
    03:53
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  12. 12 Gaudete (arr. S. Vango) 02:39
    Track
    12
    Title
    Gaudete (arr. S. Vango)
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  13. 13 The Darkest Midnight (arr. D.Ó. Muirithe) 02:45
    Track
    13
    Title
    The Darkest Midnight (arr. D.Ó. Muirithe)
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  14. 14 The Waiting Sky 03:20
    Track
    14
    Title
    The Waiting Sky
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Lucia Quinault
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  15. 15 Det lisle bånet (The Little Child) (arr. T. Krohn for vocal ensemble and percussion) 04:16
    Track
    15
    Title
    Det lisle bånet (The Little Child) (arr. T. Krohn for vocal ensemble and percussion)
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Andy Guthrie
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  16. 16 In dulci Jubilo (arr. M. Culloton) 02:59
    Track
    16
    Title
    In dulci Jubilo (arr. M. Culloton)
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  17. 17 Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo! How a Rose, E'er Blooming) (arr. S. Tenant-Flowers) 02:42
    Track
    17
    Title
    Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo! How a Rose, E'er Blooming) (arr. S. Tenant-Flowers)
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Michael Praetorius
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  18. 18 When the Earth Stands Still 03:11
    Track
    18
    Title
    When the Earth Stands Still
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Don Macdonald
    Ensemble
    Papagena
  19. 19 Fusion 03:08
    Track
    19
    Title
    Fusion
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Don Macdonald
    Ensemble
    Papagena