Sacred Treasures II: Choral Masterworks from the Sistine Chapel

Vladimir Ivanoff (Composer), Gregorio Allegri (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Vladimir Ivanoff, Gregorio Allegri
• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hearts of Space
• ASIN: B00000J8QN
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,130 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As with its predecessor, Sacred Treasures II lifts the spirits, warms the soul, and soothes the mind. With reverence, world music composer-conductor Vladimir Ivanoff invigorates the classic Holy Week psalm "Miserere," composed in the 17th century by Roman master composer Gregorio Allegori. Ivanoff extends Allegori's venerable nine-piece offering of contrition with five original tracks. In this manner, Ivanoff not only brings this astounding work to a new audience, but also builds on what has historically been the improvisational nature of the work, with Allegori's masterpiece originally modeled on that of Costanzo Festus. Recorded in a German cathedral, Ivanoff's "Metamorphoses" stars a stunning brass section, which provides near perfect balance to the extraordinary Gregorian styled harmonizing of the Onasbrück Boys Chorus. Sacred Treasures II is a magnificent feat: at once haunting, heartbreaking, and heavenly. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Travesty, November 26, 1999

By 

Paul Halsall - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Treasures II: Choral Masterworks from the Sistine Chapel (Audio CD)

I would give it no stars if possible.

Quite apart from the hiss on some tracks, there is every reason to avoid this album if you have any interest in Allegri's music.

Allegri wrote a coherent piece of *choral* music of about 10-12 minutes. This a choppy "new ageification" of the piece with not especially notable singing which extends the piece over an entire album. Allegri's music is interspersed with modern compositions and intrumentation. Worse, all sorts of tricks are played with timing -- voices being slowed down to create heaven knows what desired effect [try track 8].

There are many other recordings of Allegri available (even of pieces other than the Miserere). Personally I would recommend the older recording by the Tallis scholars (which also have some glorious music by Palestrina.)

39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Get the others -- not this one, May 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sacred Treasures II: Choral Masterworks from the Sistine Chapel (Audio CD)

Volume I and Volume III of the Sacred Treasures CDs are marvelous -- beautiful music performed in wonderful acoustical settings. Unfortunately, this one is not of the same caliber. Instead of presenting the Allegri as it was written (for voices), each movement has an additional contemporary part with a Cornetto, an out-of-tune brass instrument. The thrills that started the pieces are destroyed by this addition. Let the music stand on its own.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its different~but beautifull in its difference!, July 15, 2003

By 

Maureen Hazlett "treble boys singer lover." (colville, wa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sacred Treasures II: Choral Masterworks from the Sistine Chapel (Audio CD)

First of-its not the miserere that we're all used to. It is the whole piece but its been divided into 14 tracks. As with the Miserere: first there is singing by the men then "answered by the boy trebles". ( which by the way do a wonderful job. The high c is hit with a pure voice. The rest do a great job whith the ins and out of the harmony.)I am not a music scholar, but after the lines are sung and the brass tones of the cornetto come in~ it is a truly haunting ethereal beautiful experience. You can imagine the Pope kneeling in the solemn candlelit atmosphere of the Sistine chapel, although it is recorded in the Osnabruck Cathedral. There are so may recorded pieces of the Miserere, I myself have at least a dozen. To hear it played this way is not a problem. If you want the Miserere the way it was written by Allegri, buy it from Choir of St John's. Or if you want it in english, get it from the King's Cathedral choir. They are both gorgious! But for a different perspective don't be afraid to try something new. It is absolutely awesome!