Music for Mary Vol 2
A sumptuous acoustic setting for Marian music from across the centuries
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Edvard Grieg, Claudio Monteverdi, Anonymous, Geraint Lewis, Timothy Noon, Francisco Guerrero, John Tavener, Peter Philips, Hugh Facy, Meirion Wynn Jones, Anton Bruckner, Giovanni Palestrina, Jean Langlais, Herbert Howells, Pierre Villette, William Byrd
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Priory
Magazine Review Date: 4/2011
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 72
Mastering:
Stereo
Catalogue Number: PRCD1022
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Salve Regina |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
Salve regina, vita dulcedo |
Peter Philips, Composer
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Peter Philips, Composer Timothy Noon, Organ |
Gradualia, Vol 1/i: Nativity of the BVM, Movement: Communion: Beata viscera (without alleluia) |
William Byrd, Composer
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ William Byrd, Composer |
(2) Hymns to the Mother of God, Movement: In you, O woman full of grace |
John Tavener, Composer
John Tavener, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
Alma redemptoris Mater |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
Alma Redemptoris mater |
Giovanni Palestrina, Composer
Giovanni Palestrina, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
(A) Little hymn to Mary |
Geraint Lewis, Composer
Geraint Lewis, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Richard Lea, Organ Timothy Noon, Organ |
Virga Jesse floruit |
Anton Bruckner, Composer
Anton Bruckner, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
Hymne à la Vierge |
Pierre Villette, Composer
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Pierre Villette, Composer Timothy Noon, Organ |
(3) Oraisons, for Soprano, Flute and Organ |
Jean Langlais, Composer
Jean Langlais, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Richard Lea, Organ Timothy Noon, Organ |
Ave maris stella |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
Vespro della Beata Vergine, 'Vespers', Movement: Ave maris stella a 8 |
Claudio Monteverdi, Composer
Claudio Monteverdi, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Richard Lea, Organ Timothy Noon, Organ |
Ave Regina caelorum |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
Ave virgo sanctissima |
Francisco Guerrero, Composer
Francisco Guerrero, Composer Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Timothy Noon, Organ |
Author: Marc Rochester
The earlier pieces generally lack a sense of authority in affectionate but undemonstrative performances but three of the later pieces stand out from the crowd and lend a certain distinction to the disc. Pierre Villette’s lovely Hymne à la Vierge is well represented on disc already but I particularly relish the endearing naivety the Liverpool choristers bring to it, although I find the excessively Frenchified pronunciation of “Alleluia” a mild irritant. Enwrapped within the cathedral’s distinctive halo of acoustic – which is vividly caught in Neil Collier’s excellent recording – Grieg’s Ave maris stella has a sumptuousness which more than offsets some shaky pitching. Most impressive is Timothy Noon’s own setting of Salve regina. Partly because this music is so well tailored both for this choir and for the sound it makes in the cathedral, the choir seems to raise its game; the occasional moments of raw blend and poor tuning which affect other pieces are largely absent here, leaving a performance of real affection and charm.
The single organ solo is a typical essay in gesture over substance by Langlais, but delivered with suitable panache by Richard Lea and making a dazzling centrepiece to this thoroughly enjoyable programme.
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