Gothic Voices - Mary Star of the Sea - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has long been known for championing British contemporary music and, following two albums entirely dedicated to Thomas Wilson, the orchestra now turns to other leading composers of the contemporary scene. Devised by conductor Rory Macdonald, the programme includes works that share the themes of loss, love and life Jay Capperauld's Our Gilded Veins takes centre-stage, alongside Within Her Arms, Anna Clyne's 'fragile elegy' (The New Yorker), James MacMillan's legend-based The Death of Oscarand the commemorative For Zoe, Martin Suckling's Meditation (after Donne) - which features church bells from across Scotland - and Peter Maxwell Davies's Farewell to Stromness (in an arrangement for strings by Rosemary Furniss), which arguably features the composer's most recognisable tune. Album Tracks 1. Our Gilded Veins 2. Within Her Arms 3. For Zoe 4. Death of Oscar 5. Meditation (After Donne) 6. Farewell to Stromness

Following it's Gramophone Editor's Choice album Echoes of an Old Hall, Medieval expert Gothic Voices has recorded The Splendour of Florence, a collection of Franco-Flemish music that was found in or associated with Florence. Occupying pride of place, Dufay's motet Nuper rosarum flores is widely thought to reflect the proportions of the newly completed dome of Florence cathedral, for which it was written at the cathedral's consecration in 1436. The other works - by Franco-Flemish composers Ockeghem, Busnois, Tinctoris, van Ghizeghem and others - are taken from a couple of Florentine chansonniers, which in turn document the wide dissemination of their music in the thriving Tuscan city. This album thus showcases Florence in all it's splendour and lavishness, a city that proved a creative magnet for the highly-skilled and inventive compositional work of the outstanding composers of the Burgundian tradition. Album Tracks 2. Mirandas Parit Haec Urbs 16. Virgo Dei Throno Digna 19. Nuper Rosarum Flores

Footprint Records are proud to present the album Ave Maris Stella, with Schola Gothia from Gothenburg, Sweden.This is the group's fifth album - the first on Footprint - and the music is from the time of Saint Bridget, the 14th century and from the collection Cantus sororum, song of the sisters in the Bridgettine order at Vadstena Abbey.Schola Gothia is a professional vocal quartet from Sweden with a unique performance practice of music from the early medieval period.The group is led by Ulrike Heider, who received her education in the Netherlands, including a programme in medieval ensemble singing. The other group members are Helene Stensgard Larsson, Sabina Nilsson and Yvonne Carlsson, who were all educated at the Academy of Music and Drama at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.In their musicianship, Schola Gothia aim at reviving music found in monastic manuscripts from the 10th to the 15th century. Their repertoire consists of Gregorian chant as well as early polyphonic music. As much as possible, the group uses original notation.The quartet was formed in 1999 and has given a large number of concerts, both locally, in and around Gothenburg, and at other places in Sweden. They have also toured internationally, in several European countries, as well as in Japan and Guatemala. Schola Gothia has collaborated with many eminent musicians and ensembles.The album is mixed in Dolby Atmos. Album Tracks 1. Ave Maria (Invitatorium) 2. Ave Maris Stella (Hymnus) 3. Nativitas Tua (Antiphona) 4. Flectatur Tibi (Antiphona) 5. O Amabilis (Antiphona) 6. Laetabundus (Sequens) 7. Alma Redemptoris Mater (Antiphona) 8. Maria Summae (Responsorium) 9. O Gloriosa Domina (Hymnus) 10. Iesu Benigne Redemptor (Antiphona) 11. Beatus Populus (Antiphona) 12. Angeli (Antiphona) 13. Tu Miro Micans (Hymnus) 14. Super Salutem (Responsorium) 15. Per Se Lucens Carbunc