Ezequiel Viñao: Arcanum [Hybrid SACD] [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import]

Ezequiel Vinao (Composer), Kristjan Järvi (Conductor), Absolute Ensemble (Performer), Janet Youngdahl (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Absolute Ensemble, Janet Youngdahl
• Conductor: Kristjan Järvi
• Composer: Ezequiel Vinao
• Audio CD (September 27, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import
• Label: Bis
• ASIN: B000AYYTBW
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,673 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. Prologus: Virgil (Æneid, Book VI, 268)

2. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. Exodus (III:14)

3. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. Parmenides (fragment 8.5)

4. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. Sequentia I.

5. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. I Kings (VIII:27)

6. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. Plotinus (Ennead V.8.4)

7. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. Sequentia II

8. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. I. Corinthians (XIII:12)

9. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part One. I. Parmenides (fragment 9.3)

10. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Tractus I

11. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Scotus Erigena (De Divisione Naturæ, libri V)

12. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Eccliastes (I:9)

13. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Tractus II

14. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Plutarch (The E at Delphi, 18)

15. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Apocalypsis (X:6)

16. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Augustine (De Civitate Dei, XI)

17. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Exodus (XXIV:10)

18. Arcanum, for voice & chamber ensemble: Part Two. Epilogus: Angelus Silesius (Cherubinischer Wandersmann, I:289)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Divine Mystery, October 21, 2005

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ezequiel Viñao: Arcanum [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

Arcanum (Latin: "Mystery") is a set of vocal and chamber orchestral works written by Argentinian compoer Ezequiel Vinao. For some reason, Argentina has produced some of the most wonderful composers since the 20th Century (the luminous Ginastera, Lalo Schifrin, Astor Piazzola to name a few of the greats, and omitting so many more.) Vinao has been compared to Arvo Part of Estonia. I think it's obvious, however,that Vinao's music is more like Messiaen's, with whom he studied.

This work is almost ageless in its sound--spanning the centuries effortlessly. The composition is for single voice (here, soprano Janet Youngdahl) and a small orchestra of oboe or cor anglais, trombone, percussion, tabla, violins, cello and base. The texts range from Ecclesiates, Plutarch, Virgil, Augustine, and the new Testament as well. It is meditative in tone, the tempo is fairly even as an adagio and rarely moves faster than moderato. Estonian conductor Kristjan Jarvi directs this work with great feeling and Youngdahl has the right sort of voice (sacred music and ancient music) though sometimes lacks the exquisite purity this demands (I would have loved to hear Gundila Janowitz or the late Lucia Popp sing this.)

If you like Part or Messaien, if you are looking for a modern work of music with a spiritual, meditative sound, you might find that "Arcanum" is just what you are seeking. I was pleased to learn of another great composer, and find a new vocal work with orchestra in a contemplative setting. Lovely.