Sacred & Secular Expressions of French Composers

Going Beyond Words Host, Stan Schmidt invites you to meaningful expressions from the pen of French Culture.   This week on ChoralNet and ACDA Radio can hear an hour of music from French Composers, one whom lived over 100 years, studied organ with César Franck and worked as a secretary to Charles Gounod.   You can also re-acquaint yourself with creators you know and then add some less familiar names to your list.    Among the composers heard are Pierre Moulu, Henri Busser, Adrian LeRoy, Jan Sweelinck, Pierre Vallette, Marcel Godard, Josquin Deprez and Francis Poulenc….Plus you’ll hear Salva Nos, Stella Maris, A Muslim expression using instruments of that culture.                                                 

When I first worked on this broadcast it was headed for songs that expressed joy of the Holy Virgin.  While there is a lot of that type of music your attention is called to the petite contate for 6 chamber voices by Poulenc “A Snowy Evening” with the Netherlands Chamber Choir guided by Eric Ericson.    …..There are five Psalm settings by Adrian LeRoy, Jan Sweelinck and Josquin Desprez.   and are three selections from the pen of Pierre Villette (1926-1998).  Some of the choral artists include The Brabant Ensemble; The Colliope Choeur de Femmes (a stunning mature group of Women from France) who offer Trois Antiemes  á Sainte Vierge by Henri Busser; Ensemble Clément Janequin; The Holst Singers; Weser Renaissance Bremen and the Cambridge Singers  who close the program with the first chorus from Poulenc’s “Gloria”  Visit the blog for details of the CD Nostre Dame that has different views of the Mother of Jesus from Muslim to Christianity thinking

For a look at the CD”s used and a complete list of music heard to look at the blog of WWW.GOINGBEYONDWORDS  website and click on show 2514.