Poulenc: Mass in G major; Motets

Francis Poulenc (Composer), Robert Shaw (Conductor), Robert Shaw Festival Singers (Orchestra), Donna Carter (Performer), Christopher Cock (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Donna Carter, Christopher Cock
• Orchestra: Robert Shaw Festival Singers
• Conductor: Robert Shaw
• Composer: Francis Poulenc
• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CWM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,710 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #97 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Motets

Editorial Reviews

Made in USA. cd is free of scratches. Hardly used. May be some handling wear to the cd case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish there was more., March 30, 2002

By 

D. Seymour "snadmus" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Poulenc: Mass in G major; Motets (Audio CD)

Poulenc's mass in G is the highlight of this all a cappella disc. At about 18-1/2 minutes total, it is just too short - you want it to continue forever. It's texture is rich and exquisitely executed by Shaw and his forces. Poulenc's sophistication blends the deeply sacred texts with 20th century harmonies that evoke ancient mysticism. The "Osanna in excelsis" used in both the Sanctus & Benedictus is a passage of unbelievably straining rapture, as if one would experience aching pleasure in the presence of the divine. Poulenc's music is ethereal, effortless, masterful and timeless. The other motets and prayers included on this disc are excellent also, especially the Hodie Christus natus est and Vinea mea electa. The sound quality on this recording is excellent and the gothic cathedral, stained glass and swirls of incense come right along with it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual music, November 18, 2005

By 

Brett A. Kniess (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poulenc: Mass in G major; Motets (Audio CD)

This CD comprises a great quantity of a cappella sacred music by the French composer Francis Poulenc. Poulenc's compositional style is hard to nail down. It is often tongue in cheek, sometimes portraying the French compositional school, sometimes greatly dissonant, sometimes intimate, other times outlandish. This disk has many of these features, but it almost seems neo-Medieval/Renaissance in presentation, but highly 20th century in harmonic language. The voice parts are extremely difficult to perform and to put together, but in the end as a listener, the music doesn't let on. The music is presented as highly spiritual through thick chords and advanced harmonies with odd clashes of dissonance on appropriate texts. Melodies are flowing, often recalling snatches of chant.

The two sets of motets, four for Christmas and four for Lent, are highly introspective and personal. The famous Timor et Tremor and O magnum mysterium are evocative of the Poulencian style, but all the same, bring to mind Palestrina. The Lenten motets give a sense of great penitence and reflection on the last days of Jesus. The Christmas motets, while still subdued, are ones more of hope and longing. Poulenc's great mastery of melody is especially noticeable in the setting of Vinea mea, making the listener want the music to never stop. The Mass in G major is the traditional mass setting minus the Credo movement. The greatest changes of tempo and mood take place here. The quicker Gloria and Sanctus show Poulenc's genius at contrasting styles, textures, and complex rhythms along with constantly shifting harmonies.

The real treasures on the disk are the four prayers of St. Francis of Assise for men's chorus. Very much reminiscent of monk's chanting, Poulenc's penchant for creative and flowing melodies is exemplified here. The subtle shifts of harmonies create a spiritual kaleidoscope of choral colors. Truly remarkable compositions.

The Robert Shaw Festival Singers perform well. The men in the prayers are nearly flawless. There is someone in the soprano 1 section that sticks out of the texture and is a bit piercing in timbre, but overall the performances shimmer. There are few recordings that can stand up to this choir, of American choirs at least, but certainly none can surpass the moments that Robert Shaw creates. If you enjoy the strains of cathedral choirs or if you are unfamiliar with these works, this might be an interesting choice for you.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 50 stars are Inadequate for this Robert Shaw jewel of gems!, March 12, 2005

By 

Fred W Hood "barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Poulenc: Mass in G major; Motets (Audio CD)

Upon my zillion times of hearing Sir Robert's recording of such spell-binding "vison of beauty" in Poulence's Mass in G, I'm in Awe of Shaw's getting closer and closer to heavenly music! Now he is "Over-there with his beloved Caroline hearing his Angelic Choir zinging-in for Poulenc, Bach, Brahms, Mozart, Verdi, etc!

I remember his sight-reading session one summer at Westminister Choir College, we sang portions of this Mass in G! We never got to the Agnus Dei, but each Atlanta Symphony Concert or Spivey Hall evening with his Festival Singers he used Donna Carter as one of his favorite Sopranos.

From a long experience of hearing his recordings & rehearsals, I still hear his forceful voice directed with either wee scorn or praise to those "darned Sopranos!" Westminster one summer, when we had distinguished choral Visitors in the balcony it came out as "You Damned Sopranos!" With no apology! No Conductor of our devoted generation had as much fervor or passion in rehearsals!

If I could have heard his rehearsals of Mass in G, the gorgeous Motets of Poulenc, plus the Prayers of St Francis, I may have sustained the composer's words of "the Christian soul who is confident of a life after death!" Soon after the loss of his Caroline, I asked him how he was surviving? His smiling reply came, "She misses me..." Retired Chap Fred W Hood