Pro Musica Chamber Choir - Ramaskri - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Album Tracks 1. Allegretto in C minor, D915 2. No. 1 in C minor 3. No. 2 in E Flat Major 4. No. 3 in G Flat Major 5. No. 4 in a Flat Major 6. Molto Moderato 7. Andante Sostenuto 8. Scherzo Allegro Vivace Con Delicatezza 9. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

The programme of the latest recording by the distinguished choir 441 Hz brings together works by composers from a wide range of cultural traditions, from Scandinavia to the Philippines. Their shared expressive thread is a meditation on the phenomenon of light-it's symbolism, radiance, and transformative power. These composers write for mixed choir, enriched here by the subtle colours of violin, Tibetan singing bowls, handbells, and even water-tuned glasses.Yet for all it's imaginative scoring, the programme is far removed from the world of avant-garde experiment. Instead, it unfolds in a language of luminous harmonies, deeply affecting solo voices, and expansive musical forms, creating an atmosphere of serenity and inward reflection.

Amongst the remarkable sacred compositions of Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594) are to be found his unique and atmospheric settings of the Propers of the Mass for the feasts of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and Corpus Christi, first published in 1574 as Officia aliquot de praecipuis festis anni. In this recording project the Propers (polyphonic settings of the specific liturgical texts 'proper' to each feast) - Introit, Alleluia, Sequence, Communion - appear in correct chronological order and interspersed with the movements from some of the lesser-known and very beautiful mass compositions by Orlande de Lassus. On the first CD of the series, the Lassus Chamber Choir, conducted by Ite O'Donovan, presents the wonderful settings for Pentecostes. The next of this project is planned for the Christmas music in October.