Tavener: Lament for Jerusalem

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As in much of Tavener's work, ritualistic repetition… is central. …if one accepts that this is a rite, not a dramatic, developing piece of Western symphonic music, the contained beauty can be... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2006, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 27th Feb 2006
Catalogue No: 8557826
Label: Naxos
Length: 54 minutes

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Tavener: Lament for Jerusalem

Work length54:27

$16.00

$20.80

Angharad Gruffydd Jones, Peter Crawford
Choir of London, Choir of London Orchestra
Jeremy Summerly

I. Cycle I. Stanza I - By the Waters of Babylon (Chorus)

Track length1:58

$1.00

$1.30

II. Cycle I. Cosmic Lament I - Listen to the Reed-Flute (Countertenor, Soprano, Chorus)

Track length4:09

$1.00

$1.30

III. Cycle II. Stanza II - For There, They That Had Taken us Captive (Chorus)

Track length1:30

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Cycle II. Cosmic Lament II - 'Tis the Fire of Love (Countertenor, Soprano, Chorus)

Track length5:29

$1.00

$1.30

V. Cycle III. Stanza III - How Shall We Sing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land? (Chorus)

Track length1:21

$1.00

$1.30

VI. Cycle III. Cosmic Lament III - Hail to Thee Divine Love! (Countertenor, Soprano, Chorus)

Track length5:47

$1.00

$1.30

VII. Cycle IV. Stanza IV - Let My Tongue Cleave to My Throat (Chorus)

Track length1:35

$1.00

$1.30

VIII. Cycle IV. Cosmic Lament IV - If My Beloved Touched Me with His Lips (Countertenor, Soprano, Chorus)

Track length6:18

$1.00

$1.30

IX. Cycle V. Stanza V - Remember, O Lord, the Sons of Edom (Chorus)

Track length1:34

$1.00

$1.30

X. Cycle V. Cosmic Lament V - The Beloved Is all (Countertenor, Soprano, Chorus)

Track length6:29

$1.00

$1.30

XI. Cycle VI. Stanza VI - O Daughter of Babylon (Chorus)

Track length2:03

$1.00

$1.30

XII. Cycle VI. Cosmic Lament VI - Love Desires This Secret Should Be Revealed (Countertenor, Soprano)

Track length7:19

$2.00

$2.60

XIII. Cycle VII. Stanza VII - Since Thou Receivest the Supplications of Sinners (Chorus)

Track length1:40

$1.00

$1.30

XIV. Cycle VII. Cosmic Lament VII - Dost Thou Know Why the Mirror Does Not Reflect (Countertenor, Soprano, Chorus)

Track length7:15

$2.00

$2.60

Reviews
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Reviews

April 2006

As in much of Tavener's work, ritualistic repetition… is central. …if one accepts that this is a rite, not a dramatic, developing piece of Western symphonic music, the contained beauty can be quite mesmerizing. It's hard to imagine it better performed, or recorded.

2010

Lament was premiered in Australia in 2003 but this disc features a revised version Tavener prepared for the Choir of London's visit to Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem in December 2004.
Tavener insists that Lament should be seen less as a statement about the current plight of Jerusalem and its inhabitants than as an elegy for humankind's exile from the soul's home, and seeks to remind us what Judaism, Christianity and Islam have in common. Through the purity of his musical gestures he achieves an intensity that can affect listeners regardless of their own religious convictions.
This revision radically reduces the forces needed, both in numbers and range of instrumentation.
While some weight is lost, along with the variety of sounds (the brass section comprises just three trumpets, the woodwind two flutes, two bassoons and oboe) this is amply compensated for by increased radiance and clarity.
The premiere recording of the full-scale Lament was recorded under Thomas Woods for ABC Classics; and even though it is almost impossible to find in the UK, to a large extent this more transparent version is preferable. The soprano part was originally taken by the marvellous Patricia Rozario but even on this count Summerly's recording need not fear comparison: Angharad Gruffydd Jones has a less distinctive voice but uses it to beautiful effect. Peter Crawford sings well too, less passionate but sweeter in tone than Christopher Josey, the countertenor on the first recording.

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