Krzysztof Penderecki - St Luke Passion, Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima, Polimorphy, String Quartet No. 1, Psalms of David, Dimensions of Time and Silence

Krzysztof Penderecki (Composer), Henryk Czyz (Conductor), Andrzej Markowski (Conductor), Stefania Wojtowicz (Performer), Andrzej Hiolski (Performer), Bernard Ladysz (Performer), Leszek Herdegen (Performer), Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra / National Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 1989)
• Original Release Date: January 1, 1989
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Polskie Nagrania - Muza
• ASIN: B0000SVZWY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,183 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Passio et mors domini nostri Jesu Christi "St Luke Passion" (Parts 1-18)

Disc: 2

1. Passio et mors domini nostri Jesu Christi "St Luke Passion" (Parts 19-24),

2. Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima

3. Polimorphy

4. String Quartet No. 1

5. Psalms of David

6. Dimensions of Time and Silence

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chuck Norris once tried to listen to this album while alone in the dark at 11:30 PM. He FAILED., July 17, 2006

By 

cheesemidget123 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Krzysztof Penderecki - St Luke Passion, Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima, Polimorphy, String Quartet No. 1, Psalms of David, Dimensions of Time and Silence (Audio CD)

These are some of the best performances of Penderecki's music I know of. You really get a sense of how shocking this music was (and at times, still is) when it first came out (particulary the "crowd" scenes involving the chorus in the "St. Luke Passion" and the high string parts in the "Threnody"). Granted, the sound quality is not the best, but the quality of the performances make up for it. These recordings were made around the time this music was still relatively new (or, as in the case of the St. Luke Passion, when the sheet music was still hot off of the presses), and you can tell. The radical spirit of the music shines through (This WAS the 60's, after all). Be warned: This is not Mozart. It is not "classics for comfort". This is brutal, aggressive stuff. It abandons melody and harmony for a kind of "sound field" approach, not unlike the "monolith" music from "2001: A Space Odyssey". It is an acquired taste. However, those of you who are willing to take the plunge and go in with open minds and ears will be richly rewarded.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get This While You Can, June 20, 2006

By 

Human Capote (kansas City, Mo USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Krzysztof Penderecki - St Luke Passion, Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima, Polimorphy, String Quartet No. 1, Psalms of David, Dimensions of Time and Silence (Audio CD)

No collection of 20th century classical music is complete without this recording. The sound quality is acceptable considering these are original recordings. This is dark, intense stuff. Mel Gibson ain't got nothin' on this.