Ikos - Choral Music by Gorecki, Tavener, Pärt - interleaved by Plainchant

Henryk Gorecki (Composer), Arvo Part (Composer), John Tavener (Composer), Stephen Cleobury (Conductor), Choir of King's College - Cambridge (Orchestra), Stuart Tibbs (Performer), David Goode (Performer), Guy Johnston (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Stuart Tibbs, David Goode, Guy Johnston
• Orchestra: Choir of King's College - Cambridge
• Conductor: Stephen Cleobury
• Composer: Henryk Gorecki, Arvo Part, John Tavener
• Audio CD (January 17, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RU6
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,777 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Alma Redemptoris Mater, antiphon - Chor King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury

2. Totus Tuus, for chorus, Op. 60 - Chor King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury

3. Ave Maria, gratia plena, offertory in mode 8 for the 4th Sunday in Advent - Stuart Tibbs

4. Amen for chorus, Op 35 - Chor King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury

5. Regina caeli, antiphon in Honor of Our Lady - Stuart Tibbs

6. Magnificat, for chorus - Chor King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury

7. Alleluia. Venite ad me, alleluia with verse (All Saint's day) - Stuart Tibbs

8. The Beatitudes, for chorus & organ - David Goode

9. Beati mundo corde, communion in mode 1 for All Saints Day - Stuart Tibbs

10. Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, for chorus: Magnificat - Chor King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury

11. Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, for chorus: Nunc Dimittis - Chor King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury

12. Requiem aeternam, introit in mode 6 (Liber Usualis 1807a) - Stuart Tibbs

13. Funeral Ikos, for chorus - Chor King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury

14. Ego sum resurrectio et vita, funeral antiphon - Stuart Tibbs

15. In Paradisum Angeli - Guy Johnston

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This CD intersperses, to wonderful effect, famous and beautifully sung plainchant melodies such as "Ave Maris Stella" and "Alma Redemptoris Mater" with sacred music by three well-known New Mystic composers. Górecki's "Totus Tuus," with its constant repetition of "Maria", may get tiresome; but "Amen" (setting only the one word) is gripping throughout. Pärt is represented by his austere, oddly tense "Magnificat" and an unusually warm setting of the Beatitudes, which ends with a surprisingly florid organ solo. Tavener's giddy "Magnificat" and serene "Nunc Dimittis" are luminous; his "Funeral Ikos" sets an extraordinary Orthodox funeral text to a plain, heartbreaking melody. The gorgeous singing of the King's choir under Stephen Cleobury outshines even that of Sir David Willcocks's glory days. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Echoes of Musical History in Contemporary Settings, September 9, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ikos - Choral Music by Gorecki, Tavener, Pärt - interleaved by Plainchant (Audio CD)

Once again Stephen Cleobury and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge bring intelligence and scholarship along with excellent performances to the recorded literature. This enchanting survey of Gregorian chant/plainsong includes not only superb examples of this vocal form, it also brings to our contemporary ears the works of three important composers who are deeply moved and inspired by this most pure form of singing.

Like turning leaves of a book, each plainsong is followed by a work by one of the three featured composers writing today - Henryk Gorecki, Arvo Pärt, and John Tavener. The comparisons are not only interesting, they are also mutually enhancing. And this is a chance to understand the writing styles of Gorecki, Pärt and Tavener for those not familiar with their works. The choral singing (and occasional use of the organ) is of the highest order and the acoustic of King's College chapel makes this listening experience mysterious and elegant. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, September 05

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Ethereal, March 9, 2010

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RECORD SHOP GIRL (Northern Mpls Suburb) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ikos - Choral Music by Gorecki, Tavener, Pärt - interleaved by Plainchant (Audio CD)

It is a shame this recording has been discontinued, as once again, the Choir of King's College, Cambridge has created a top-notch piece of art.