Paul McCartney: Ecce Cor Meum

Paul McCartney (Composer), Gavin Greenaway (Conductor), Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Orchestra), Colm Carey (Performer), Kate Royal (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Colm Carey, Kate Royal
• Orchestra: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
• Conductor: Gavin Greenaway
• Composer: Paul McCartney
• Audio CD (September 26, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000HC2NL0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,641 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Spiritus

2. Gratia

3. Interlude (Lament)

4. Musica

5. Ecce Cor Meum

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Paul McCartney's new "classical" oratorio is called Ecce Cor Meum, which translates as "Behold My Heart." The idealistic texts, also by McCartney, are meditations on goodness, spirituality, peace, and love, and are well served by the pretty, Romantic melodies; the long choral and orchestral sections flow one into the next. The Interlude (composed after the death of his wife, Linda), with its lovely oboe solo, is simple and moving. The music builds throughout to an emotional climax and the entrance of the organ later in the work--beautifully played and handsomely recorded--is quite remarkable. This is a far more advanced work than 1991's Liverpool Oratorio: better orchestrated, more through-composed. No, it's not the last word in compositional sophistication, but it has many beautiful moments, and McCartney's legions of fans will need to own it. --Robert Levine

Product Description

Limited Deluxe Version packaged in 60 page hardback book with metallic foil embossing. The book includes notes, lyrics and extra photos. Originally commissioned by Magdalen College Oxford to commemorate the 550th anniversary of the foundation of the College in 1998, Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart) is an oratorio written for Magdalen College Choir by Sir Paul Mccartney. It is scored for choir and orchestra and there are four movements, each of which begins with unaccompanied voices and the text combines both English and Latin. This is McCartney's fourth album on the EMI Classics label - and it has been a labour of love with more than eight years in the making. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Multitalented Paul McCartney's Celestial CD, September 29, 2006

By 

Brien Comerford (Glenview, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul McCartney: Ecce Cor Meum (Audio CD)

This choral and classical instrumental gem is profoundly spiritual and captivating. The lyrics yearn with idealism, the choirs are celestial and the orchestra is equally uplifting and replete with pathos. The Interlude track is a melancholic marvel relating to the sad death of Linda McCartney. I was shocked to hear how much more advanced Paul McCartney has become in the realm of classical music. Ecce Cor Meum is vastly superior to Liverpool Oratorio and it surpasses the respectable Standing Stone. I am a rock music fan but I listened to Ecce Cor Meum four consectutive times last night. After the third play I was convinced that this CD's grandeur, pathos and spirituality combined to make it a masterpiece. The lyrics are sanctifying as they accentuate that our innate nature is laden with a universal love that we need to rediscover. McCartney's spirituality is profound. Paul is a Sir, a Beatle, a great vocalist, a dynamic bass player, a painter, a vegetarian, an animal rights activist and now he is a bona fide Classical composer.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classical Music From a Class Act, October 7, 2006

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Paul McCartney: Ecce Cor Meum (Audio CD)

After years traveling down his Long & Winding Road that led to this collection, it was well worth the wait. Paul McCartney has turned his travails into triumph; his challenges into championships.

Paul has proved to be a musical peer among many, including Tony Bennett with whom he does an excellent duet; those well established in choral work such as Walton, Bax and others of their caliber.

Never able to dodge that Beatle influence which has long become part of so many other songs and forms of music, Paul appears to embrace it. He plays Beatle songs at all of his concerts and even this vastly different collection retains just a hint of that old Beatle magic that made Paul a household name.

By that I mean that Paul remains true to his musical muse; his songs are identified by his warm, ballad-like style and soft sentimentality that softens the cynical edges of an otherwise jaded world. He breathes fresh life and animus into this music; it is this coupled with his own style that pull it off effectively.

One thing that struck me about this poignant collection is the strong spiritual aspect. Paul McCartney maintains an optimistic outlook while beseeching people to look to their goodness within.

This is a very serious collection. This is, I believe, Paul McCartney's core values and beliefs. It is this seeking, finding and reinforcing the goodness in ourselves and others that makes this so unique.

This is a collection that you will want to have. It is very soothing and some of the songs make me think of the Christmas Mass.

Paul McCartney is like his own 1967 classic - getting better all the time. This work is proof positive of that.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this album!, September 30, 2006

By 

neptune (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paul McCartney: Ecce Cor Meum (Audio CD)

This is an incredible album...one of love, love lost, and spirituality.
It's incredibly beautiful in composition and production.
Paul continues to outdo himself, and shows what a truly masterful sonfwriter he is. Movement II (Gratia) is my favorite. I play it continually, and it never fails to hit a spiritual nerve in my body.
This is an excellent album by the world's foremost songwriter.
Long live Sir Paul!