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Valentin Silvestrov - Sacred Works | ECM New Series 4763316

Valentin Silvestrov - Sacred Works

£12.29

Currently out of stock at the UK suppliers. Available to order, but is likely to take longer than usual to despatch

Label: ECM New Series

Cat No: 4763316

Barcode: 0028947633167

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Vocal/Choral

Release Date: 2nd November 2009

Contents

About

This album of sacred a cappella works from recent years - music of haunting beauty, characterised in turns by calm introspection and serene lightness - offers a fascinating addition to the wide spectrum of works by Valentin Silvestrov on ECM New Series. The imprint, named ‘Label of the Year’ in the 2009 Gramophone Awards, has championed the Ukrainian master (born 1937) since 2001, but 'Sacred Works' represents a new development by the composer.

Silvestrov’s compositions for chamber choir have a uniquely transparent sound with other-worldly shifting harmonies and free timing. The pieces were written mostly in 2005/06 on the instigation of chorus master Mykola Hobdych and these ravishing performances – displaying astounding flexibility and polish – are very much “authentic”: the Kiev Chamber Choir have repeatedly studied the pieces with the composer and gave the premières of the majority.

Silvestrov’s interest in the choir came comparatively late. Partly due to conductor Mykola Hobdych’s persistent encouragement, he immersed himself more deeply in the choral world and began to study old Russian litanies. Once he had started reading them, he was so fascinated that he wrote some 40 minutes of music within two weeks.

By treating the choir as an ensemble of “extremely modest” soloists and dividing the sections into small groups, Silvestrov acquires unique sonic and harmonic effects and an utmost flexibility of melody and rhythm. Its lyrical fluency and introvert tenderness brings Silvestrov’s choral writing close to his much-lauded 'Silent Songs', to 'Requiem for Larissa' and his music for solo piano.

Contents:
Liturgical chants (2005)
- Litany
- Four spiritual songs (Christmas song/Dithyrambic song/Cherubic song/Alleluia)
- Bless, O Lord
- O Holy God
- The Creed
- Gloria
- Hymn of the Cherubs
- The Beatitudes
- Ave Maria

Two spiritual songs (2006)
- Alleluia
- Ave Maria

Two spiritual chants (2006)
- A Mercy of Peace
- To Thee we Sing

Two Psalms of David (2006)
- Fret not thyself because of the ungodly (Psalm 37)
- O Praise God in His Sanctuary (Psalm 150)

Diptych (1995)
- The Lord’s Prayer
- Testament (from the poems of T.H. Shevchenko)

Alleluia (2006)
- Evening
- Morning
- Night

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