Richard Moore - Via Crucis - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Franz Liszt was 67 when he composed his Via Crucis, yet it did not receive it's first performance until 1929, 43 years after the composer's death. This work of his mature years is in 15 sections, retracing the Stations of the Cross that mark the stages of Christ's Passion, from being condemned to death to being laid in the tomb. Combining Gregorian chant, the Lutheran liturgy and the Latin, German and Aramaic languages, the Via Crucis shows real formal originality. A devout believer, Liszt gives us here his most important sacred work. He composed several versions for mixed choir, soloists and organ (with the organ part optionally transcribed for piano), for piano solo, organ solo, and two pianos. After an album devoted to Janacek, the Collegium Vocale founded by Philippe Herreweghe is once again conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw in this new Alpha recording. Album Tracks 1. Via Crucis, S.53 2. Salve Regina, S.66 3. Vater Unser, S.29 4. Ave Verum Corpus, S.44

In the first phase of the composer's career, his music for solo piano is represented by a relatively limited number of significant pieces. In contrast, one of the more obvious characteristics of recent works of Casablancas is the impressive quantity of piano compositions offered, as shown by the dates when pieces in the present catalogue were written. The maturity which characterizes his musical language has enabled him to achieve results influenced by the instrument's great literature but with an increasing virtuosity in the writing and extraordinary richness of textural detail in both harmonic and polyphonic elements, subject always to the piano's sonorities and natural dynamics as the final criteria of musical structure. The selection offered here brings together almost all the piano works of Benet Casablancas, it's earliest contribution being Preludi I Fuga En Do (Prelude and Fugue in C). This provides an interesting introduction to his work by presenting a very early piece which, despite the fact that it is enormously different from the composer's mature style, demonstrates in it's firm contrapuntal writing, his search for structural integrity and a concern for craftsmanship. How the musical personality of Casablancas would develop is perhaps revealed more clearly in the mild disquiet of the quasi-expressionistic Prelude rather than in the Fugue's neoclassicism (written somewhat in the style of Hindemith). But this study in polyphony already gives us insight into a young composer setting himself unusually high standards in the service of his profession. Album Tracks 1. 1. Intrada. Capriccioso. Con Anima Ma Tenuto 2. 2. Intermezzo (Notturno). Lentissimo 3. 3. Finale. Giocoso 4. 1. Adagio 5. 2. Vivo 6. 1. Joc (Play). Scherzando E Comodo 7. 2. Canã§Ã³ (Song). Andantino 8. 3. Dansa (Dance). Con Moto E Festivo 9. 1. Larghetto Cantabile 10. 2. P

This unique disc, a selection of the most hauntingly beautiful and moving Gregorian chants for the Feasts of the Cross, was inspired by the mood of the Lithuanian Hill of Crosses. The deeply impressive scene was erected as a monument against religious oppression under Communist rule and has served to inspire many with its great beauty. Graces & Voices draw on the spiritual power of the place to feed a spring of beauty in Gregorian chant that will both soothe and inspire. Album Tracks 1. Vexilla Regis 2. Nos Autem Gloriari Cum Tropis 3. Christus Factus Est 4. Ad Corinthios I 1,18-24 5. Dulce Lignum Cum Tropis 6. Protege Domine Cum Tropis 7. Per Signum Crucis 8. Agnus Dei Christus 9. Surrexit Pastor Bonus 10. Dulce Lignum 11. Ad Philippenses 2,5-11 12. Crux Fidelis 13. Crux Benedicta Nitet 14. O Crux Benedicta 15. O Crux, Viride Lignum 16. O Crux, Splendidior 17. Hoc Signum Crucis