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Editorial Reviews
Review
Produced by 2013 GRAMMY Award winner for Producer of the Year, Classical, Blanton Alspaugh --National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2013
Despite the rather obvious association with the aurora borealis, one
of the most spectacular natural settings in the world, the title
Northern Lights has a specifically religious connotation, as indeed do
all the pieces on this disc. It is in effect a religious album though
you would not know it by Chandos's clever masking of that fact, making
it look more like a typical Norwegian album devoted to the cold and
beautiful clime of that country. Ola Gjeilo is a profoundly religious
man if we are to take the texts seriously, coming as excerpts from his
Sunrise Mass to St. Augustine, to John of the Cross. In that regard he
fits right into the James Macmillan scheme of things, yet his music is
a far cry from the acerbic struggles of that wonderful composer. Even
Eric Whitacre's densely packed dissonances hail from a distance
Gjeilo's basically diatonic and melody-driven compositions, making for
a quaint and sometimes ingenious combination of Slavic feeling set in
the mode of someone like Daniel Pinkham. But even his occasional
flirtations with mixed meter are not to be taken any more seriously
than that given in a song like 'All You Need is Love' - the rhythm is
established and that is that, no confusion needed. . . I can't
imagine any music lover not being enchanted with this superbly sung
album, recorded in spacious Super Audio sound that is simply riveting.
Highly recommended! --Audiophile Audition, Steven Ritter
Despite the rather obvious association with the aurora borealis, one
of the most spectacular natural settings in the world, the title
Northern Lights has a specifically religious connotation, as indeed do
all the pieces on this disc. It is in effect a religious album though
you would not know it by Chandos's clever masking of that fact, making
it look more like a typical Norwegian album devoted to the cold and
beautiful clime of that country. Ola Gjeilo is a profoundly religious
man if we are to take the texts seriously, coming as excerpts from his
Sunrise Mass to St. Augustine, to John of the Cross. In that regard he
fits right into the James Macmillan scheme of things, yet his music is
a far cry from the acerbic struggles of that wonderful composer. Even
Eric Whitacre's densely packed dissonances hail from a distance
Gjeilo's basically diatonic and melody-driven compositions, making for
a quaint and sometimes ingenious combination of Slavic feeling set in
the mode of someone like Daniel Pinkham. But even his occasional
flirtations with mixed meter are not to be taken any more seriously
than that given in a song like 'All You Need is Love' - the rhythm is
established and that is that, no confusion needed. . . I can't
imagine any music lover not being enchanted with this superbly sung
album, recorded in spacious Super Audio sound that is simply riveting.
Highly recommended! --Audiophile Audition, Steven Ritter
Product Description
The critically acclaimed, Arizona-based Phoenix Chorale (formerly Phoenix Bach Choir) originally focused on music of the Renaissance and baroque periods, but today is equally dedicated to the creation and performance of new music. On this disc the Choir performs choral works, and settings of sacred texts by the Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo.
When he first heard Gjeilo's Ubi caritas, Charles Bruffy was instantly hooked, finding the music refreshing and magnetic . Bruffy brought Gjeilo's music to the Chorale and its audiences, and the response was immediate. Soon after, Gjeilo was invited to be the Chorale's first Composer-in-Residence.
Phoenix, a setting of the Agnus Dei, is dedicated to Charles Bruffy and the Phoenix Chorale in honour of its fiftieth anniversary. When Gjeilo first visited the choir in Arizona, he had never been to the desert before, and the 'quiet beauty and barrenness of the landscape' moved him deeply. He describes Phoenix as 'symphonic in nature... one of those pieces where the text is very much the servant of the music, not the other way around'.
In contrast, Northern Lights takes its inspiration from Gjeilo's homeland, Norway, and the 'terrible beauty' of the natural phenomenon that may be observed there. The music reflects the powerful and electric quality of the northern lights, which must have seemed both mesmerising and terrifying to people in the past when no one knew what they were, and superstition prevailed.
The Phoenix Chorale made its first appearance on Chandos in 2004 with Shakespeare in Song. Since then it has released several joint recordings with its sister choir, the Kansas Chorale, featuring among others Alexander Grechaninov's Passion Week, the disc nominated for a Grammy in no fewer than four categories, including Best Classical Album and Best Choral Performance, winning in the Best Engineered and Classical album categories.
When he first heard Gjeilo's Ubi caritas, Charles Bruffy was instantly hooked, finding the music refreshing and magnetic . Bruffy brought Gjeilo's music to the Chorale and its audiences, and the response was immediate. Soon after, Gjeilo was invited to be the Chorale's first Composer-in-Residence.
Phoenix, a setting of the Agnus Dei, is dedicated to Charles Bruffy and the Phoenix Chorale in honour of its fiftieth anniversary. When Gjeilo first visited the choir in Arizona, he had never been to the desert before, and the 'quiet beauty and barrenness of the landscape' moved him deeply. He describes Phoenix as 'symphonic in nature... one of those pieces where the text is very much the servant of the music, not the other way around'.
In contrast, Northern Lights takes its inspiration from Gjeilo's homeland, Norway, and the 'terrible beauty' of the natural phenomenon that may be observed there. The music reflects the powerful and electric quality of the northern lights, which must have seemed both mesmerising and terrifying to people in the past when no one knew what they were, and superstition prevailed.
The Phoenix Chorale made its first appearance on Chandos in 2004 with Shakespeare in Song. Since then it has released several joint recordings with its sister choir, the Kansas Chorale, featuring among others Alexander Grechaninov's Passion Week, the disc nominated for a Grammy in no fewer than four categories, including Best Classical Album and Best Choral Performance, winning in the Best Engineered and Classical album categories.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is extraordinary. The Phoenix Chorale has such a rich and clear sound, which really allows the complexities of the harmonies to show through. This is also a beautiful study in the evolution of Ola Gjeilo's compositional style. If you are not familiar with this composer, you should be. This album is not to be missed!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Ellen Patera
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a long-time fan of the Phoenix Chorale and when I heard they were teaming up with Ola Gjeilo I knew it would be a perfect match. And it is. Choral music surely doesn't get much better than this; both the music and the performers are exquisite. But I must warn you. Be careful what you're doing while listening to this CD, at least the first time around, as you will want to give it your full attention. Driving a car is definitely not recommended, as I learned to my horror. (This will turn out to be the most expensive CD I've ever purchased! Good thing my husband loves the Phoenix Chorale, too.) Pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back, and just listen to the gorgeous voices of the Phoenix Chorale as they make magic with Ola Gjeilo. Five stars is not enough!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love this CD. In the past several monthes, like many others, I have become a huge fan of Baltic choral music. I've always loved choral music by most of the "classical" greats of all eras, but this contemporary a cappella music is something very new to me. I don't have the technical wherewithall to know why; but for some reason, the Baltic composers seem to have something that others are lacking; a depth, a melancholy, an ability to carry the listener away. Whatever that magic is, Ola Gjeilo, a Norwegian transplanted to America, has it. All of the tracks are wonderful; however, track number 2, "Serenity" is one of those rare, transcendant works that music lovers pine for. Complex, simple, and occasionally even cloying, it reveals more in 5 minutes than most composers can say in a lifetime. That's quite an accomplishment for a 21st, or even last half of the 20th century, composer. Performance, engineering and ambience are perfect. I haven't heard Baltic choral music performed more "Baltically" than this. Highly recommended to Baltic fans - you know who you are.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
surpringly good
The Phoenix group had this young Norwegian as their composer in residence. Unlike many contemporary composers, he writes music that is pleasing to the ear and comforting to the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by James A. Thorson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful!
I absolutely love this composer's music and the PHoenix Chorale. The combination is outstanding. I play it every day and never tire of it. Very uplifting, inspiring, new sounds. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rhoda Olson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice
Quite well done. Would have liked a little more feeling & dynamics in O magnum mysterium but was very good otherwise.
Published 3 months ago by Carol
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous music and harmonics. I play it over and over.
Very inspirational and calming with beautiful and creative melodic features. I play it on my player on repeat while I work.
Published 3 months ago by P.W. Barnes-McConnell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gjeilo: Northern Lights
This album won prizes a few years ago and made this composer more well-known than he was. The music varies in tone, but is always stimulating and different from most other choral... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ralph S. Gardner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Beautiful!
I'm just getting into the classical genre and this record is definitely something that is inviting and beautiful. Each track seems to build on the next. Great music!
Published 3 months ago by AFaustinaKid
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Treasure of Incalculable Price
Arizona is a desert in many ways other than just climate. Our arts and culture venues have struggled for years and years and still do. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ben Gill
5.0 out of 5 stars
An album you just gotta hear!
If you are a fan of choral harmonies and deeply emotional absolutely breathtaking sounds than this recording is a must have!!! Read more
Published 4 months ago by James W. Unger
5.0 out of 5 stars
ITunes Best Vocal Classical Album of 2012
This incredible album was just named by iTunes as the Best Vocal Classical Album of the year! A very prestigious honor given the wealth of competition this year in the combined... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Erik Gustafson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite young choral composer
I sing in a choral group and we will be doing some of Gjeilo's work. This collection is magnificent, well-performed, well-recorded.
Published 5 months ago by Jean Cottel
