Lukaszewski - Choral music - Hyperion: CDA67639 - CD or download

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Layton's affinity with this radiant, accessible music is clear as he guides the Trinity College Choir, which sings with passion and purity throughout this programme. — BBC Music Magazine, September 2008, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 1st Sep 2008
Catalogue No: CDA67639
Label: Hyperion
Length: 66 minutes

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Excerpt, Łukaszewski, P: Beatus vir

Work length8:20

$3.30

$4.50

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton

V. Beatus vir, Sanctus Paulus

Track length2:32

$1.10

$1.50

VI. Beatus vir, Sanctus Antonius

Track length2:45

$1.10

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I. Beatus vir, Sanctus Martinus

Track length3:03

$1.10

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Łukaszewski, P: Two Lenten Motets

Work length8:00

$2.20

$3.00

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton

I. Memento mei, Domine

Track length4:03

$1.10

$1.50

II. Crucem tuam adoramus, Domine

Track length3:57

$1.10

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Łukaszewski, P: Ave Maria

Work length3:57

$1.10

$1.50

Rebecca Lancelot (soprano)
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton

Łukaszewski, P: O Antiphons

Work length34:32

$7.70

$10.50

Zoë Brown (soprano)
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton

I. O Sapientia

Track length3:43

$1.10

$1.50

II. O Adonai

Track length9:20

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III. O Radix Jesse

Track length4:40

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IV. O Clavis David

Track length3:29

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V. O Oriens

Track length4:18

$1.10

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VI. O Rex gentium

Track length5:29

$1.10

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VII. O Emmanuel

Track length3:33

$1.10

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Łukaszewski, P: Psalmus 102

Work length7:02

$1.10

$1.50

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton

Łukaszewski, P: Nunc dimittis

Work length4:23

$1.10

$1.50

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton

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This latest disc from Trinity showcases the talent of this marvellous young choir in a disc of seductively beautiful spiritual music from Poland.

Pawel Lukaszewski is the most outstanding of the younger generation of Polish composers specializing in sacred choral music. His ability to encapsulate the expressive essence of a text with immediacy and economy of technical means is unrivalled, as is his facility of idiomatic vocal writing. He has an enormously subtle and varied harmonic palette— unlike some of his contemporaries—and creates an organically new harmonic world for each piece. His extended tonal sound world is enriched by highly selective use of vocal effects such as glissandi, parlando (speaking) and susurrando (whispering), all of which occur invariably in direct response to clear textual stimuli.

A generous selection of Lukaszewski’s considerable output is recorded here, including the sequence of seven Advent Antiphons composed in 1995–9. Lukaszewski’s extended settings cover a vast expressive range: from the dark eightand twelve-part sonorities of O Clavis David to the ecstatic concluding superimposed thirds of O Oriens.

Conductor Stephen Layton is one of Lukaszewski’s most enthusiastic proponents—indeed he is the dedicatee of the most recent work on this disc, the Nunc dimittis from 2007. He communicates this deep understanding of Lukaszewski’s music to his young singers, coaxing from them a committed and potent performance.

Reviews

September 2008

Layton's affinity with this radiant, accessible music is clear as he guides the Trinity College Choir, which sings with passion and purity throughout this programme.

A superlative issue in every way. This inspired music by the contemporary Polish composer employs a convincing language of ‘renewed tonality’ in its impassioned response to the traditional liturgical texts … these young Cambridge singers bring a technical mastery and total commitment to this vibrant music

Layton is arguably the finest choral director working today in the UK … Layton’s choral scholars sing this challenging music, with its dazzling polytonal clusters, complex chords, and non-traditional progressions with absolute purity of tone, perfection of
intonation, and depth of feeling … we live in a renaissance of sacred choral music … I found myself amazed at each subtle harmonic surprise, at each stunningly apt underlining of a phrase … do not hesitate

2010

This is a lovely disc of enchanting choral music.
Possibly the Trinity College Choir does not always provide the warmth of tone such unashamedly expressive music demands, but that is more than compensated for by the sheer intensity of Stephen Layton's direction: only the hardest of musical hearts will remain unmelted by such committed interpretations.
It was for Layton that Pawel Lukaszewski produced his setting of the Nunc dimittis. In its beautifully measured phrases, immaculately tailored textures and ingenious use of light and shade to invoke light shining out of darkness, it is a gem which receives here a beautifully poised account. Effusive reference in the booklet to Lukaszewski's masterful handling of the concluding fade-out – 'a hackneyed effect in the hands of lesser composers' – did get the juices of critical scepticism running for a bit until heard, along with all the other potentially hackneyed choral effects (polytonal clusters in Mementomei, Domine, frequently reiterated dynamic contrasts in Beatus vir, Sanctus Martinus, continually repeated melodic and rhythmic motifs in O Sapientia), and realised that here is a composer who really is a true master of the art of a cappella writing and for whom other people's experiments and gimmicks are an essential tool in conveying a profound emotional message.
Once or twice – notably in a saccharine setting of the Ave Maria (although the purity of Rebecca Lancelot's voice manages to divert any cloying character) and an over-clichéd Crucem tuamadoramus – the musical quality is compromised by emotional effect, but all in all this is a lovely disc. It has been difficult to draw this CD out of the player, so frequently has it been played.
There's no higher praise.

Awards Issue 2008

This is a lovely disc of enchanting choral music. Possibly the Trinity College Choir does not always provide the warmth of tone such unashamedly expressive music demands, but that is more than compensated for by the sheer intensity of Stephen Layton's direction. ...this is a lovely disc.

13th September 2008

[Lukaszewski's] style is hardly adventurous, but there is a resourceful use of what he terms "renewed tonality" and a refreshingly clear-sighted approach to various Latin motet texts. And with performances as sonorous and acutely paced as these, they come across with a winning fervour.

Lukaszewski - Choral music

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