In the Beginning
Young Oxford choir’s debut spans three centuries of music
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Eric Whitacre, Thomas Weelkes, Gustav Holst, Gabriel Jackson, Pawel Lukaszewski, Aaron Copland, Giovanni Palestrina, Nicolas Gombert
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Delphian
Magazine Review Date: 12/2011
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 69
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: DCD34072
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
In the Beginning |
Aaron Copland, Composer
Aaron Copland, Composer Benjamin Nicholas, Conductor Beth Mackay, Mezzo soprano Choir of Merton College, Oxford Natasha Tyrwhitt-Drake, Organ Peter Phillips, Conductor |
Lugebat David Absalon |
Nicolas Gombert, Composer
Benjamin Nicholas, Conductor Choir of Merton College, Oxford Natasha Tyrwhitt-Drake, Organ Nicolas Gombert, Composer Peter Phillips, Conductor |
Nunc dimittis |
Gustav Holst, Composer
Benjamin Nicholas, Conductor Choir of Merton College, Oxford Gustav Holst, Composer Natasha Tyrwhitt-Drake, Organ Peter Phillips, Conductor |
In the Beginning was the Word |
Gabriel Jackson, Composer
Benjamin Nicholas, Conductor Choir of Merton College, Oxford Gabriel Jackson, Composer Natasha Tyrwhitt-Drake, Organ Peter Phillips, Conductor |
When David heard |
Thomas Weelkes, Composer
Benjamin Nicholas, Conductor Choir of Merton College, Oxford Natasha Tyrwhitt-Drake, Organ Peter Phillips, Conductor Thomas Weelkes, Composer |
Author: Christopher Nickol
The imaginative programme explores beginnings, as heard in the famous opening words of the Book of Genesis and St John’s Gospel, and endings, represented by the words of the Nunc dimittis plus the story of the murder of King David’s son Absalom. Despite the gap of three centuries, the compositions of Gombert, Palestrina and Weelkes sit comfortably with the modern works, and the serene polyphony of the early music repertoire is every bit as expressive as the sumptous harmonies of the pieces by Holst, Łukaszewski and Whitacre. Merton College deserve our gratitude for commissioning Gabriel Jackson’s In the beginning, a marvellous setting of familiar words, much enhanced by the descriptive accompaniment of organist Natasha Tyrwhitt-Drake. Beth Mackay is an excellent soloist in Copland’s mini-oratorio and her bold, declamatory singing is ideally suited to the words from Genesis. An intensely moving recording, strongly recommended.
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