Customer Reviews

Morten Lauridsen: Lux aeterna

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Morton Lauridsen is a fine composer whose works for chorus and orchestra are among the best being composed today. Since the premiere of his now famous 'Lux aeterna', a repertoire staple with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Orchestra, this incredibly moving work has enjoyed frequent performances not only in the United States but with European ensembles as well.

This wondrous recording features Polyphony with the Britten Sinfonia under the baton of Stephen Layton. The title piece grows in stature with time and in this performance the myriad subtexts are more clearly defined. Lauridsen tends to write thick choral sounds and while these are organ-like in their beauty, Layton clarifies the more dense sections of the work and the result is illuminating. For the more massive, darker sound the Los Angeles Master Chorale under Paul Salamunovich still satisfies: it is nice to have the 'big' sound along side the 'chamber' sound.

Added bonuses on this recording are the six 'Madrigali', the 'Ave Maria', 'Ubi caritas et amor', and 'O magnum mysterium', each of which are given superlative performances. The recorded sound is crystal-clear without losing resonance. For those who hold the 'Lux aeterna' in high esteem this is a recording that should be along side the original. As for those to whom Lauridsen's name is unknown, this beautiful recording is a fine introduction to an important composer. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, July 05

When I first heard Lux Aeterna performed, I immediately went out and purchased the premier recording, performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale under the direction of Paul Salamunovich. I still enjoy that recording, though it is at times dark and quite thick. This new recording by Polyphony and the British Sinfonia moves the work from a rich romantic full choir to a more personal and intimate chamber ensemble. The differences are stunning. While the LAMC's recording melts the harmonies into one rich, thick sound, Polyphony's recording showcases each and every line, part, and harmony. In addition, The chamber sound is well-suited for the madrigali, especially so for Ubi Caritas et Amor.

As a chorister, I can affirm that Lauridsen's compositions are a joy to sing. But they are just as suited to listening. His compositions bring out the best of the choral genre, and this recording showcases that beautiful writing behind the strength of pure tone and clean diction. While this CD would make an excellent companion to the original recording of Lux Aeterna, it also stands quite well on its own.

Gorgeous music. Hard to believe it is contemporary with its chant and canon like qualities, but the real accomplishment of the composer is that he creates such harmony and melody with dissonance and modern chord structure. This music healed every cell in my body and soul.

Years ago, I saw Lux Aeterna performed in the Kennedy Center and was awe-struck. This was one of the most beautiful pieces of music I had ever heard.

I purchased the only version on the market - the Los Angeles Chorale (Salamunovich) CD. I was disappointed -- it lacked the dynamism that I remember from the concert.

A few months ago I checked to see if there was a new version and came across this CD. The recording quality is far better and it sounds more like a live performance.

I keep this CD in my car at all times - my favorite track is O Magnum Mysterium. My dad died a few months ago, and this track is so heavenly, so divine, that listening to it makes me feel a tiny bit closer to him. Music can be a powerful force -- but a piece like this, masterfully performed and recorded, continues to bring me enormous peace and joy.

this recording of Lux Aeterna and Ave Maria pales in comparison to the LA Master Chorale recording conducted by the incredibly talented Paul Salamunovich. No doubt, this cd impresses, especially with the Madrigali and the ubi caritas. Polyphony's diction, unwavering tone, impeccable blend, and intonation are unmatched by most choirs. These qualities lend themselves to the excellent singing on the Madrigali and the Ubi Caritas. Polyphony's small choir is especially suitable for the madrigali, which require a smaller choir and are definitely the best recordings of the madrigali that i've heard on any choir. However, for the Lux Aeterna and Ave Maria, the LA Master Chorale recording, with their distinctly lush, rich, darker, fuller and more emotional sound creates a much more intimate and emotional recording than the thin sounding, characteristically bright british and overly clean sound of Polyphony. Lauridsen wrote the Lux Aeterna specifically for the LA Master Chorale to take advantage of their distinct sound and it shows in the music. The chords and dynamics are definitely written for a more large choir, and it is apparent when polyphony's comparatively smaller choir sings loud passages and doesnt ever reach the fullness of the LA Master Chorale. Same thing applies to the Ave Maria. I feel that Paul is much more sensitive to the texts than Layton is, and Paul's expertise in chant results in a much better sounding recording for the Latin motets than polyphony's. In addition, the 1st sopranos tend to overpower the rest of the choir, the tenors sound WAY too pingy, and the basses lack the foundation of the LA Master Chorale. However, despite these quibbles, this cd is still excellent, especially the madrigali and ubi caritas, which is worth the price alone.

We heard part of this CD performed live in Orange County recently. It was breathtakingly beautiful and were so appreciative of the opportunity to purchase this CD on Amazon.com

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.

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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

It goes without saying that American composer Morten Lauridsen is one of the finest masters of choral music today. And this CD should very well prove it.

His "Lux Aeterna" is a marvel. He uses a somewhat Romantic style for the choir, while giving the orchestra (the fine Britten Sinfonia) very dissonant structures. Overall, this 25-minute piece makes me feel spiritual in many ways: I'm an Agnostic, and I love some good church music; it makes me feel warm and comfortable inside.

The other four pieces on this CD are entirely choral. Madrigali, Six "Fire Songs" on Italian Renaissance Poems reminds me of Rachmaninov's Vespers. I don't mean the intense sequences of the Vespers; I mean the purely lyrical sections that just breathes. Madrigali is one that's not to be missed.

Ave Maria & Ubi caritas et amor. Both are about six minutes long, but just because they're short and not epic-like doesn't mean that they should be underappreciated. These two pieces are a joy to listen to: they're almost cinematic when it comes to their overall ambient atmosphere.

Ah, the O Magnum Mysterium. I played this for Wind Ensemble during High School, and when I heard the original choral version, the first thing I thought was, "I can't wait to go to the music store!". Well, that's a bit overexaggerated, but you know what I mean. This piece is, to me, the most dogmatic of the short pieces on this CD. The slow, fluid flow of the music is very enchanting. When I listen to this, I imagine a falcon or an eagle flying above the clouds at dawn. I don't know why, but I guess I have a vivid imagination.

In short, Lauridsen's music should be a must-own. The CD itself is a bit more expensive than ordinary CD's, but for the purely angelic sounds of "Lux Aeterna" and "O Magnum "Mysterium", I don't think you'll mind the price.

Morton Lauridsen, so well known in choral circles for the beauty that he injects into his music, has combined with Stephen Layton and Polyphony to create a masterpiece. The blending of voices in this CD speaks to me as few have done lately. I first heard his O Magnum Mysterium several years ago and was touched by the awesome beauty of it. And then I found this, a gem of a CD that I will be listening to over and over. Don't take my word for it, however. Buy one, turn down the lights, light a candle and let Lauridsen's music speak to you. You won't be disappointed.

As good as this rendition is, it just doesn't approach a live performance in a good concert hall. The climax of the work sounds subdued on this CD, the dynamic contrasts and intensity aren't there as they are in a good live performance. In spite of these shortcomings, it's an excellent rendition, worth the expense.