Listen & tracks

1 of 19 tracks have a preview · 4 works · 65:50

Missa Euge BoneChristopher Tye 5 movements20:44
1. 1 Kyrie Octavi Toni 2:46
2. 2 Gloria 4:40
3. 3 Credo 4:05
4. 4 Sanctus et Benedictus 4:53
5. 5 Agnus Dei (four verses) 4:20
Three Latin Church MotetsHerbert Howells 3 movements10:13
1. 6 Salve Regina 4:02
2. 7 Regina Cæli 3:19
3. 8 Nunc Dimittis 2:52
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit aufJohann Sebastian Bach 3 movements7:05
1. 9 Verse 1 3:24
2. 10 Verse 2 2:06
3. 11 Chorale 1:35
Missa BrevisZoltán Kodály 8 movements27:48
1. 12 Introitus 3:10
2. 13 Kyrie 2:03
3. 14 Gloria 3:55
4. 15 Credo 4:49
5. 16 Sanctus 2:11
6. 17 Benedictus 3:03
7. 18 Agnus Dei 5:03
8. 19 Ite Missa est 3:34

Recorded on the choir’s 1997 European tour, this disc features Kodály’s magnificent Missa Brevis, Christopher Tye’s Missa Euge Bone, Herbert Howells’ Three Latin Church Motets and Bach’s motet for double choir Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf.

Kodály’s Missa Brevis, composed in the dark years of World War II, carries haunting melodies that reflect both the horror of the period and his deep understanding of the voice. Soaring solos sit beside full-choir writing of real drama and passion.

The Missa Brevis was recorded in the 17th-century Martinskirche near Lake Constance in southern Germany, with Thomas Heywood at a Rieger organ. The Tye, Howells and Bach were recorded in the 15th-century Santa Maria Bressanoro in northern Italy.

Reviews

Throughout this seldom recorded repertoire, the choir exhibits good intonation, particularly in the a cappella works, and a real sense of artistry, bringing a crisp and precise style to bear on this often difficult music. Kodály’s mighty Missa Brevis, composed in 1944, gives the choir ample opportunity to showcase its excellent solo singers.

— State of the Arts

the highlight of the disc – a beautifully modulated and expressive performance of Bach’s joyous motet Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit … With no reservations, this is a disc to delight lovers of fine choral singing.

— Bill Hoffmann, The Canberra Times

Artists

The Choir of Ormond College

choir

The Choir of Ormond College has, since its founding in 1982 under Douglas Lawrence, become the first Australian choir to earn ongoing international recognition for its concert and recorded work.

Douglas Lawrence

director

Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne. He founded the Choir of Ormond College and directed it from 1982 to 2006.

Thomas Heywood

organ

Thomas Heywood is one of Australia’s most sought-after concert organists, with an enviable reputation as a leading interpreter of the large-scale romantic and transcription repertoire on grand historic instruments.

Johann Sebastian Bach

composer

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German composer and organist of the late Baroque. His sacred and secular music for choir, orchestra, organ and solo instruments remains among the foundations of the Western concert and church repertory.

Herbert Howells

composer

Herbert Howells wrote Anglican church music of rare harmonic warmth and contemplative beauty, from carol-anthems such as A Spotless Rose to Latin motets and organ works steeped in the Tudor tradition.

Zoltán Kodály

composer

Kodály's music carries folk melody and eastern European colour into masses, solo cello works of fierce technical demand, and piano pieces that range from Debussian meditation to the storm of the Marosszék Dances.

Christopher Tye

composer

Christopher Tye (c. 1505–before 1573) was an English Renaissance composer and organist, noted for sacred choral music and chamber polyphony. Only a fraction of his output survives, among it masses, anthems and a celebrated series of In nomines.