Macmillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross

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Seven Last Words was commissioned by the BBC in 1993 for Holy Week 1994, when it was broadcast in seven short programmes, a 'word' per day. It remains a highly compelling work. Under Stephen... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 1st Aug 2005
Catalogue No: CDA67460
Label: Hyperion
Length: 68 minutes

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MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross

Work length46:28

$7.70

$10.50

Polyphony, Britten Sinfonia
Stephen Layton

I. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do

Track length5:48

$1.10

$1.50

II. Woman, Behold thy Son! … Behold, thy Mother!

Track length5:11

$1.10

$1.50

III. Verily, I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with me in Paradise

Track length8:25

$1.10

$1.50

IV. Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

Track length6:33

$1.10

$1.50

V. I thirst

Track length5:29

$1.10

$1.50

VI. It is finished

Track length6:47

$1.10

$1.50

VII. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit

Track length8:15

$1.10

$1.50

MacMillan: On The Annunciation Of The Blessed Virgin

Work length6:50

$1.10

$1.50

James Vivian (organ)
Polyphony
Stephen Layton

MacMillan: Te Deum

Work length15:09

$1.10

$1.50

Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), James Vivian (organ)
Polyphony
Stephen Layton

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Hyperions Record of the Month for August by Polyphony and the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Stephen Layton portrays the ultimate dramatic event in historythe Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, expressed through the raw emotional power of one of Scotlands most distinguished and vital composers, James MacMillan. His Seven Last Words from the Cross, first commissioned and screened by the BBC in 1994, depicts the final seven short sentences Jesus uttered, from the mesmerizing opening cadences to the final disturbing hammer-blows of the nails being driven into Christs hands and feet, leaving the listener to wonder at one of the choral masterpieces of our time. Many years ago the same choir recorded this work on the BMG Catalyst labelthe recording was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. Now ten years later their interpretation has developed and proves that Polyphony has risen to rank amongst the worlds finest professional choirs. Also presented on this disc are two premier recordings by the same composer. On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin for five-part choir and organ was written for the choir of Gonville and Caius College Cambridge in 1997 and is set to the stunning poetry about transformation by the seventeenth-century poet Jeremy Taylor; the Te Deum was written in 2001 to celebrate the Queens Golden Jubilee. In both works we have much of the essential MacMillan to savour making this issue indispensable for followers of both MacMillan and Polyphony.

Reviews

2010

Seven Last Words was commissioned by the BBC in 1993 for Holy Week 1994, when it was broadcast in seven short programmes, a 'word' per day. It remains a highly compelling work. Under Stephen Layton, it certainly receives an impressive performance; an intense, deeply felt interpretation, full of beautiful and affecting singing, with all the elements – string orchestra, featured violin, choir and soloists – nicely balanced.
The other two works, On the Annunciation ofthe Blessed Virgin (1997) and Te Deum (2001), receive their premiere recordings. On theAnnunciation is an intricate but approachable setting for five-part choir and organ of a poem by the 17th-century poet Jeremy Taylor. The luminous lines for voices finally give way to a gradually fading dance for organ. The echoes of Messiaen in this device are matched by some of the organ chords and figures in the dramatic Te Deum, written to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. From the contemplative opening phrases for male voices, somewhat reminiscent of Mahler's Urlicht, a dazzling part emerges for solo soprano, sung in characteristically stunning fashion by Elin Manahan Thomas. As ever, MacMillan incorporates all his allusions, including those to Scottish traditional music, into an utterly individual style. The performance confirms Polyphony's place in the front rank of choirs.

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