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Beatus Vir
Choir of Ormond College
Speak of choral music and you immediately think of masses, requiems and pieces with orchestral accompaniment. The reality is that the great bulk of choral music was written for performance in its liturgical context on Sunday by church choirs.
This CD contains some of the finest small-scale pieces written for choir, all short enough not to let the congregation doze off before the sermon. It includes music in eight parts by Jacob Handl, Palestrina and Gabrieli, and other beautiful music by Rheinberger, Villette, Stanford, Howells, Monteverdi and Gesualdo. All tracks were recorded live during the choir's 1999 European tour, which received much praise from the critics: "... a bewitching sound unfolded as the Choir made its way through the breakneck harmonic progression of Gesualdo's motet 'O vos omnes' with precise intonation and extraordinary security." (Bonn performance) "... the incredible professional discipline and the rich sound was most impressive. In the Stanford pieces ... the effect and radiance was in places breathtaking ... encore of a Bach Fugue and two spirituals ... a jazzy drive and enthusiasm that completed the picture of this versatile Choir and swept the audience away." (Lindau performance) Press quotes:
“beautifully sung, as one would expect from this excellent ensemble ... a fine, and useful, CD which I am happy to recommend”
— Henry Howell, Music Teacher Magazine “... a technical tour-de-force, which the young voices dispatch with aplomb ... the disc shows off the considerable ability and youthful enthusiasm of the group to advantage.”— Tony Way, The Age - Green Guide “splendid”— New Classics, UK “fine singing ... enhanced by the warm acoustic of the church”— Bill Hoffmann, Canberra Times Audio preview:
Pater Noster download Track Listing:
Cantate Domino (Gabrieli)
Beatus Vir (Gabrieli) O Vos Omnes (Gesualdo) Stabat Mater (Palestrina) Sicut Cervus (Palestrina) Pater Noster (Handl) Abendlied (Rheinberger) Three motets (Stanford) Catalogue Number: MD3220
Price: AU$26.00
(convert to $US)
Beatus Vir can be purchased through Buywell Just Classical who offer secure on-line ordering. |
 Featured Artists:
Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is, Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne and was the founding director of Choir of Ormond College, a position he held from 1982 to 2006.
He frequently performs as a soloist for major music organisations within Australia and his concert career has taken him throughout most of the western world. He has released a number of recordings through the Move label which have received outspoken praise from reviewers. Since its inception in 1982 the Choir of Ormond College under the direction of Douglas Lawrence, has become the first Australian choir to receive ongoing international recognition. The choir is now directed by John O'Donnell
Composers:
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