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Whitbourn: Luminosity / Gillett, Andrade, Berry, Commotio
Naxos

Whitbourn: Luminosity / Gillett, Andrade, Berry, Commotio

$19.99

Details

Composer
WHITBOURN, JAMES
Artist
Tutu, Berry, Commotio, Andrade, Gillett, Parkes, Ker, Jones, Berry
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Feb 23, 2010
Catalog #
8572103
UPC
747313210374

About

Light—life-enabling, life-enhancing. Something fundamental, universal in our life. Images evoking it abound in language, and virtually all the authors of the texts set here deal with or refer to it in one way or another, from ancient seers to the modern luminary Desmond Tutu.

There are of course many different kinds of light, but on its own the single word evokes something bright, pure, clear. These are words which can equally well be applied to James Whitbourn’s music. His writing is simple and straightforward (especially harmonically), and not outwardly virtuosic; his use of texture (often under-appreciated as a musical value) is also simple, but beguiling. The choir often sings homophonically (all voice parts moving in the same rhythm, as in a hymn), which implies a clarity of communication. But with a few sure strokes—the addition of a single element, such as the solo voice in the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and A Prayer of Desmond Tutu, or the use of percussion in the same works, or the tanpura and the cunningly Eastern-sounding viola in Luminosity, he can simultaneously evoke different, non-Western traditions, and thereby multiply the allusions.

-- Bernard Robertson

Tracklist 16 tracks

  1. 1 Magnificat 08:11
    Track
    1
    Title
    Magnificat
    Duration
    08:11
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Christopher Gillett, Henry Parkes, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  2. 2 Nunc Dimittis 04:08
    Track
    2
    Title
    Nunc Dimittis
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Christopher Gillett, Henry Parkes, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  3. 3 Alleluia jubilate 04:26
    Track
    3
    Title
    Alleluia jubilate
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Henry Parkes
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  4. 4 A Prayer of Desmond Tutu 01:44
    Track
    4
    Title
    A Prayer of Desmond Tutu
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Desmond Tutu, Andrew Ker, Steffan Jones
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  5. 5 He carried me away in the spirit 06:15
    Track
    5
    Title
    He carried me away in the spirit
    Duration
    06:15
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  6. 6 Pure river of water of life 02:43
    Track
    6
    Title
    Pure river of water of life
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  7. 7 Eternal Rest 03:54
    Track
    7
    Title
    Eternal Rest
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Henry Parkes
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  8. 8 Of one that is so fair and bright 03:38
    Track
    8
    Title
    Of one that is so fair and bright
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  9. 9 Annelies: There is no speech or language 03:11
    Track
    9
    Title
    Annelies: There is no speech or language
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  10. 10 I. Lux in tenebris 07:01
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Lux in tenebris
    Duration
    07:01
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Levine Andrade, Henry Parkes, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  11. 11 II. The Changing Scenes 03:11
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. The Changing Scenes
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Levine Andrade, Henry Parkes, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  12. 12 III. Silence 03:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Silence
    Duration
    03:18
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Levine Andrade, Henry Parkes, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  13. 13 IV. The Living Thing 06:08
    Track
    13
    Title
    IV. The Living Thing
    Duration
    06:08
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Levine Andrade, Henry Parkes, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  14. 14 V. Castle of Diamonds 01:21
    Track
    14
    Title
    V. Castle of Diamonds
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Levine Andrade, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker, Henry Parkes
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  15. 15 VI. Ask the Beauty 04:42
    Track
    15
    Title
    VI. Ask the Beauty
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Levine Andrade, Henry Parkes, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry
  16. 16 VII. All Shall be Well 04:53
    Track
    16
    Title
    VII. All Shall be Well
    Duration
    04:53
    Composer
    James Whitbourn
    Performer
    Levine Andrade, Henry Parkes, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker
    Ensemble
    Commotio
    Conductor
    Matthew Berry