The Song of Songs stands apart from its biblical surroundings as one of the supreme love poems of world literature, a celebration of erotic love in the form of a dialogue between a bridegroom and his bride, invoking all the senses, the fragrance of wine, blossom, fruits and spices. Ranging widely over five centuries, from the relative asperity of Dunstaple to the lush exoticism of Daniel-Lesur, this cherry-picked assortment of sweetmeats is given exultant life by Mike Brewer and Laudibus.
September 2007
****
“The mixture of music from five centuries is successful… each work is pervaded with a controlled yet sensuous pleasure in texture and melody, and it's pleasing to hear some lesser-known composers… Skempton and Jackson's settings, holding their own alongside even Victoria... the music, performances and sound on the disc are warm, sensitive and luminous.”
“Delicious precision: most of the world's choirs would die for their clean, blazing sound”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
