| Site review by Geohominid November 4, 2008
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Performance: Sonics (S/MC): / |
The Phoenix Chorale and its conductor/Artistic Director Charles Bruffy are one of the brightest jewels in the Chandos crown. Bruffy has a great talent for programming, displayed superbly on this new disc of sacred pieces in honour of the Virgin Mary. Because of a dearth of information in the Gospels about Mary, the early Christians of the Eastern Church in particular began weaving an elaborate web of poetic myth and imagery about her, much of which is reflected here in this mainly C20th collection of choral pieces.
The a cappella programme is united not just by the ancient Marian texts used, but by the common musical ancestry of the Church. Each piece is in some way informed by plainchant, renaissance polyphonic or Romantic styles, often brought cleverly up to date. There are two première recordings, and some of the other pieces will be familiar only to those who sing in choruses. For the average listener, therefore, this is a disc of many new and alluring treasures.
Among these treasures, I was particularly pleased to find the Hymn to the Virgin by a 16-year old Benjamin Britten. An intimate study of pure chant-like melody shared antiphonally between a larger and a smaller choir, the latter singing in hushed tones, it remained a favourite of the Composer's and was performed at his funeral.
In her Three Latin Motets, Cecilia McDowall uses subtly clustered harmonies which cause the music to shimmer and vibrate in a pointillist way, with mystic effect. The second motet is for women's voices only, and a fine, dancing Regina Coeli completes the set.
The titular piece, Herbert Howells' A Spotless Rose, sports a baritone solo and is marvellously directed to be played 'with easeful movement'. Bruffy and choir provide a great sense of flowing peacefulness in this carol-anthem for Christmastide.
Javier Busto's two Marian pieces recieve their première recording - the first of many, I should think. They have an appealing simplicity yet glow with many tone colours and shifts in mood. The exultant surge of tone at the words "Sancta Maria" in the Ave Maria leaves a lasting impression.
The longest and perhaps the most original work originated in a commission by the Phoenix Chorale to composer Jean Belmont Ford, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, the home town of Charles Bruffy's other choir, the Kansas City Chorale. Her 'Electa' (the title refers to a female elected one) has four sections using the ancient texts of 'De Profundis', 'Asperges me Domine', 'Ave, Dulcissima Maria' and 'Magnificat Anima Mea', thus proceeding from the stark lamenting of a soul's cry from the depths to the glorification of Mary's soul. This fascinating work is uniquely accompanied by a bass drum and a single tympano drum, which lends a curiously hieratic and tribal sound to the piece.
Bruffy's programme has a cumulative effect and makes for very satisfying listening; balm for the soul, indeed. It may seem small measure at under an hour, but this is one of those cases when more would simply be superfluous.
The recording is up to the usual standard for Chandos with this ensemble. Its acoustic is generous but the choral image is sharply focussed and unfailingly beautiful. The solos emerge naturally without spotlighting, and the subtle resonances of the deep bass drum are captured with stunning fidelity. Presentation is also exemplary, with a detailed account of each piece in English, German and French, with all the texts also supplied.
Highly recommended as a source of beauty and solace from the cares of the world.
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Copyright © 2008 John Miller and SA-CD.net
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