The Passion of St. Thomas More (Music and Libretto by Garrett Fisher)

Garrett Fisher (Artist), Anna Vinten-Johansen (Artist), Olle Persson (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 27, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bis
• ASIN: B00005TNBB
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #313,523 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Gramophone, May, 2002
Hypnotic, magical, enchanting and moving...[with] touches of pure dramatic genius.

Product Description
In describing this album, Classic Today's David Hurwitz writes: "The plot, familiar to many from A Man For All Seasons, concerns Thomas More's refusal to countenance Henry VIII's divorce of Catherine of Aragon and sign a statement of support for the king's subsequent schism with Rome, for which 'crime' he was beheaded. American composer Garrett Fisher (b. 1970) focuses on the moment of decision itself and its effect on three principal characters: More (who must follow his conscience knowing the penalty for refusal to renew his loyalty to the king); his daughter Margaret (who must come to accept her father's choice); and King Henry (forced to understand that his power to compel obedience is not absolute and that More has vanquished him spiritually). These singers also take on additional roles as 'dark angels', figures that elucidate the spiritual consequences and implications of the decisions that the human characters make...

"Fisher's laudable objective clearly has been to universalize the story through a ritualistic stylization that treats the music in the most traditional way possible: not as 'representation' of some abstract concept or event, but as a means of elevating the expressive impact of the text. The libretto itself, by the composer, is as simple, eloquent, and direct as his setting of it...[The work] gently touches on spiritual matters without ever becoming preachy or pretentious, telling a human story with words and music that truly work well together."

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting, April 1, 2002

By	Colleen Cooke (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

The Passion of St. Thomas More transported me to a timeless place of love, joy, integrity, life and death. The music is atmospheric and great story telling. I felt touched by another's life and more connected to my own. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly beautiful CD, June 17, 2002

By A Customer

This is one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever heard. Fisher employs small forces - three singers (each playing a character in the More tragedy and also doubling as a Dark Angel), together with a guitar, cor anglais, an indian harmonium drone and a small amount of tabla-like percussion - to create a slow-moving ritual that depicts and comments on the issue of Thomas More's integrity. Should he agree to sign a statement of support for Henry VIII and compromise his principles, or should he "hold his pen" and sacrifice himself?

The music is slow-moving, tonal and austerely beautiful. The performances are flawless, and the recorded sound is spacious and atmospheric. This CD has all the makings of a cult hit.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishingly and Provocatively Original, June 14, 2004

By	"boocome" (Moscow, ID United States) - See all my reviews

In a field cluttered with releases that are derivative and mundane, The Passion of Saint Tomas More is astonishingly and provocatively original. Fisher has left his score free of ostentation, allowing his music to be the unaffected narrative voice of the drama. This remarkable reserve perfectly communicates the protagonist's resignation to the inevitable while reinforcing the philosophical maxim that there can be no such thing as a Christian tragedy. If you find yourself inured to the usual musical offering and want something to truly cleanse your palate, The Passion of Saint Tomas More is a must buy.