CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst and Other Choral Works

by: Eric Whitacre, Polyphony, Robert Millett, Stephen Betteridge, Stephen Layton

Release Date February 14, 2006
What a gorgeous recording this is! The beauty of this music is absolutely stunning, like hearing music for the first time. It's really hard to believe that Whitacre is only 35--the degree of spirituality and depth of feeling here seems the product of a lifetime. And unlike many choral composers, he is not a one-trick pony. Every aspect of every composition is distinctive, even as it is always recognizable as his. And like Arvo Part, you get the overwhelming sense that every note is heartfelt, never calculated, though Whitacre's aesthetic is warmer and less austere than Part's ("Sunburst" would have been a more apt title for the CD). I am also reminded in some ways of the Bulgarian women's choirs: Bulgarian music is full of extreme dissonance, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Discover Early Music

from: Naxos

Release Date November 01, 2005
For anyone hoping to discover new types of music, compilation CDs offer an accessible overview from which they can pursue areas which interest them. The project is always a daunting task - how should one go about it and what should be included? Inevitably, the selection of chosen material is determined by the record company's existing catalogue; thus the resulting CD says more about them (here Naxos) than the repertoire itself (here early music). Nevertheless, 'Discover Early Music' is a laudable attempt, attractively packaged and supplemented with a readable booklet.

However, there are some real anomalies here...

1. Why is Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-77), the most important figure of the Ars Nova, unrepresented? Why is ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Aquitania

from: BMG

Release Date October 14, 1997
Aquitania by Sequentia is a wonderful, exciting Christmas CD for connoisseurs of early vocal music. These early Christmas Latin songs of the 12th century has a total time of 73 minutes. This is a fantastic, rewarding CD for all those looking for something else than the usual Christmas favorites. Sequentia is simply music of the highest rank. Barbara Thornton and Benjamin Bagby are geniuses in that field. Moreover, you simply cannot go wrong with this CD at Amazon's price. Far from expensive, I bought their other CD Shining Light. Before they fall into deletion, hurry to get both at once. I invested every penny for them and I never regretted it.

- Maurice Canada

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Leonin, Perotin: Sacred Music from Notre-Dame Cathedral

from: Naxos

Release Date July 19, 2005
All I needed to do was to hear a few of the sample clips of this CD, and then I knew I had to purchase it via Amazon's MP3 downloading program. The beautiful Gregorian Chants sound as if you are within a cathedral, such as Notre-Dame. The acoustics are eerie, and the echo of the chants give you a peaceful setting, whether you are in prayer, meditation, or simply wanting to feel the desire to be in church. The sound quality to these MP3's are the best that one can download to make a studio-sounding CD! Whether you buy it new, used, or via Amazon's MP3 downloading program, this is the BEST in choral, cathedral chanting. Get it now!

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Morten Lauridsen: Lux aeterna

by: Morten Lauridsen, Stephen Layton, Polyphony

Release Date February 08, 2005
The album Lux aeterna by Morten Lauridsen (Hyperion CDA67449) featuring the pure and delightful voices of the choir Polyphony, and the incredible instrumentation of the Britten Sinfonia with Stephen Layton bringing it all together is nothing short of astounding.

[...]

All in all this was a great find. I also purchased the album of the same title done by the Los Angeles Master Chorale with Paul Salamunovich, which is equally well done. All comments above apply to this album as well (RCM19705).

Willy

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Stella Maris

by: Trio Mediaeval, Anonymous Notre Dame School, English Anonymous, Sungji Hong, Perotin, English Polyphony

Release Date October 10, 2005
What a beautiful blending of voices in the style of the Medieval chant... we could all be closet Catholics after listening to this! The voices are so well-matched, and the style so transcendant.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

John Rutter: Music for Christmas

by: Polyphony, Stephen Layton, City of London Sinfonia

Release Date November 13, 2001
Excellent Christmas CD. I especially liked the "Angles Carol" track!
Would recommend this CD to one and all.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

The Lily and the Lamb: Chant and Polyphony from Medieval England

from: Harmonia Mundi Fr.

Release Date August 22, 1995
Its not often in this busy life that you can settle back and listen to the voices of angels weave a peaceful tapestry around you while earthly cares fade and vanish in the ether. The Anonymous 4 are weavers of wonder and peace. No matter that your spiritual persuasion might not be Roman Catholic - or any other established Old World Church. If this music doesn't calm your savage soul and lead you to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the purest qualities of the human voice, nothing will. Stick with your Heavy Metal. "The Lily and the Lamb" isn't for you.

If you are someone who appreciates classical, Baroque, and/or Renaissance music, do not hesitate to enjoy this CD. The liner notes are also interesting and informative. Every CD from this group is of the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Salva Nos (Save Us)

from: Caroline

Release Date April 06, 1999
The Mediaeval Baebes, a group of twelve female vocalists led by Katherine Blake, croon and sigh their way through a variety of Latin, Middle English and medieval French songs in a manner all their own. Usually in unison, and often unaccompanied, the straightforward sound of their voices is simple yet striking. All of the music of "Salva Nos" has a fairy tale quality about it, whether that be in the form of innocent lilts graced by dulcimer and recorders, or primal chants belted out heartily to the deep beat of hand drums. Another world, another time, another aesthetic--this is music that calms and transports you. It may not be entirely authentic in its presentation, but its spirit shines through. "Salva Nos" is by far the most laid back of the Mediaeval Baebes' releases--they keep ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross

from: Hyperion UK

Release Date September 13, 2005
MacMillan has a wonderful inner understanding of sacred music, informed (I assume) by his Catholic faith. The Seven Last Words from the Cross are stunning, a brilliant admixture of old and new.

Track 3 (Verily, I say unto thee, thous shall be with me in Paradise) derserves a particular mention. The "ecce lignum crucis" (proclaiming darkness) is stunningly interwoven with the thrice proclaimed acclamation of "venite adoremus". Its the "venite adoremus" with its wafting neo-romantic violin solo and Brittenesque strings (reminding me very much of the famous quartet in Peter Grimes: "do we cry or do we weep" and perhaps of Brahms)that grabs you: how can this be so, how can we have crucified the "Son of Man" - the shock of it all is ironically captured more decisively through the most ... Read More: