Sir Gibson Alexander - Dream of Gerontius Op 38 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Formed in 1893 by Sir Dan Godfrey, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (it should be noted that the orchestra was eventually based in Poole, but maintained the original name for tradition's sake) became a world-class and world-traveled orchestra, performing in New York, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Vienna (to name but a few). In addition to it's well-stamped passport, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra had the rare pleasure of working with such names as Elgar, Holst, and Stravinsky. The orchestra did spin off a smaller group, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, in 1968, but that group folded in 1999. Signed to a long-term deal with the Naxos tag, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has released more than 300 CDs, and has been nominated for a handful of Grammy Awards. For the 2008-2009 season, the conductor's baton was passed from Marin Alsop to Ukrainian Kirill Karabits. Album Tracks 1. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part I Prelude 2. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part I Jesu, Maria - I Am Near to Death 3. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part I Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul 4. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part I Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Deus 5. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part I Proficiscere, Anima Christiana 1. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II I Went to Sleep 2. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II It Is a Member of That Familiy 3. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II But Hark! Upon My Senses Comes a Fierce Hubbub 4. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II I See Not Those False Spirits 5. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II But Hark! a Grand Mysterious Harmony (Soul of Gerontius) 6. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II Thy Judgement Now Is Near 7. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II I Go Before My Judge 8. The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 Part II Softly and Gently, Dearly-Ransomed Soul

• Excerpted from a Q&A with the late Colin Davis...Q Sir Colin, Edward Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius is very popular in the UK but heard less often inGermany. Why do you think that is?A That is hard to explain. As a young man, Elgar was quite famous in Germany. The work was performedin Dusseldorf.• Richard Strauss attended, and acknowledged the work's significance.• Perhaps Gerontius is less well known because the text appears to have come straight from the Vatican.• This work also addresses the issue of dying. If you think what it must be like on your deathbed, you startto dream - that is Gerontius' dream. Album Tracks 1. 01. Prelude 2. 02. Jesu, Maria 3. 03. Kyrie Eleison 4. 04. Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul 5. 05. Be Merciful, Be Gracious 6. 06. Sanctus Fortis 7. 07. I Can No More 8. 08. Rescue Him, O Lord 9. 09. Novissima Hora Est 10. 10. Proficiscere, Anima, Christiana 11. 11. Go, in the Name of Angels 1. 01. Introduction 2. 02. I Went to Sleep 3. 03. My Work Is Done 4. 04. All Hail, My Child and Brother, Hail! 5. 05. Low Born Clods of Brute Earth 6. 06. It Is the Restless Panting of Their Being 7. 07. the Mind Bold and Independent 8. 08. I See Not Those False Spirits 9. 09. Praise to the Holiest 10. 10. the Sound Is Like the Rushing of the Wind 11. 11. Glory to Him 12. 12. the Sign of Thy Approaching Agony 13. 13. But Hark! a Grand Mysterious Harmony 14. 14. And Now the Threshold As We Traverse It 15. 15. Praise to the Holiest in the Height 16. 16. the Judgement Now Is Near 17. 17. Jesu! By That Shuddering Dread Which Fell on Thee 18. 18. Be Merciful, Be Gracious 19. 19. Praise to His Name 20. 20. Take Me Away 21. 21. Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge 22. 22. Softly and Gently, Dearly-Ransomed 23. 23. Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge 24. 24. Praise to the Holiest

The Dream of Gerontius by Edward Elgar is a two-part work for voices and orchestra composed in 1900 to text by John Henry Newman. Widely regarded as Elgar's finest choral work, and by some his masterpiece, Gabrieli's first-class performance, and McCreesh's superb interpretation demonstrate why their recordings are seen as some of the best in classical music today. Album Tracks 2. Dream of Gerontius~Part 1. Jesu, Maria – I am near to death / Kyrie eleison 2. Dream of Gerontius~Part 2. But hark! upon my sense / We are now arrived / Low-born clods of brute earth 7. Dream of Gerontius~Part 2. I go before my Judge / Be merciful, be gracious / Praise to His Name!