What’s on Great Sacred Music, Sunday, February 7, 2016

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08:02:00
African-American spiritual, arr. by William Appling: We Shall Walk Through the Valley

William Appling Singers, William Appling

 

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Motet: Jubilate Deo
The Studio of Ancient Music of Montreal, Christopher Jackson

 

John Tavener: A Hymn to the Mother of God
Cambridge Singers, John Rutter

 

The “corn ditties” of the 18th century were the precursors of African-American spirituals.

On this Sunday before Ash Wednesday a shout of praise by Italian Renaissance composer

Palestrina seems appropriate. Psalm 100 begins with such an exultation: “O be joyful in the

Lord!” The Orthodox churches influenced much of the work of English composer Sir John

Tavener (1944-2013) as we will hear in this evocative A Hymn to the Mother of God.

 

08:13:18
Adolphus Hailstork: Nocturne
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, Philip Brunelle
Maria Jette, soprano

 

Giuseppe Verdi: Ave Maria ~ Four Sacred Pieces
Swedish Radio Choir; Stockholm Chamber Choir, Riccardo Muti

 

Anonymous: Tierce en taille in C
Kenneth Gilbert, organ
1981 Helmut Wolff organ, McGill University 

 

American composer Adolphus Hailstorck studied with Nadia Boulanger and earned

his doctorate from the University of Michigan. The great Italian opera composer Guiseppe

Verdi wrote his Ave Maria (sulla scala enigmatica) in 1889 and revised it in 1897. Le Livre

d’orgue de Montreal is an 18th manuscript of French organ music some of which has been

attributed to Nicholas Lebegue ((1630-1702).

 

08:31:55
Sir Joseph Barnby: When morning gilds the skies
Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer
Rupert Gough, organ

 

Heinrich Schutz: Fili mi Absalon
New York Cornet and Sacbut Ensemble, Johannes Somary
John Ostendorf, bass-baritone; Johannes Somary, baroque organ

 

Traditional American spiritual: There is a Balm in Gilead
(an orchestra assembled for this event), James Levine
Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman, soprano

 

When morning gilds the skies was recorded by Wells Cathedral Choir as part

of their five CD set entitled The English Hymn. German composer Heinrich Schutz

captures the anguish and despair of King David upon hearing that his son Absalom

has been killed in battle. The text comes from 2 Samuel 18:33. American sopranos

Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman recorded this spiritual in Carnegie Hall on March

1990 for a television presentation.

 

08:47:11
Felix Mendelssohn: Sonata in A Major, Op. 65, No. 3
Andrew Scanlon, organ
The Perkins & Wells Memorial Organ, C.B. Fisk Op. 126, 2005, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Greenville, NC

 

Here is another stellar combination of composer, instrument and performer. Mendelssohn

modeled much of his writing for organ on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. The organ in St. Paul’s

Episcopal Church, Greenville, North Carolina is another superb musical instrument crafted by one of America’s

foremost organ builders. Professor Andrew Scanlon is highly-regarded both for his performing and his teaching.

 

08:59:49
J.S. Bach: Missa Brevis in A, BWV 234
Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon
Eugenie Warnier, soprano; Magid El-Bushra,
alto; Emiliano Gonzalez-Toro, tenor; Sydney Fierro, baritone

 

Ensemble Pygmalion has been active in France since 2006. Its brilliant young conductor Rafael

Pichon has established a solid reputation as one of the premier early music conductors in the world today.

 

09:31:59
George Frideric Handel: Salve Regina
English Concert, Harry Bicket
Lucy Crowe, soprano

 

Handel wrote his Latin motet Salve Regina whilst in Rome. The work dates from 1707 and was first

performed in the Church of Santa Maria in Montesanto, Italy.

 

09:45:16
Frank Martin: Passacaille
James Lancelot, organ
1876 Willis/Harrison & Harrison organ in Durham Cathedral, England

 

Swiss composer Frank Martin (1890-1974) wrote his Passacaille for organ in 1944. Martin was influenced

by classical composers as well as by the twelve tone method of composition used by Arnold Schoenberg.

 

09:58:23
Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Messe des Morts, H.7
Le Concert Spirituel, Herve Niquet

 

French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier (c.1634-1704) wrote this Requiem between 1688 and 1698.

 

10:23:46
Alexander Agricola: Missa Guazzabuglio
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel

Franco-Flemish composer Alexander Agricola (1445-1506) didn’t actually compose a Missa Guazzabuglio.

Conductor Paul van Nevel stitched together five movements of other masses which Agricola had written to

create this pastiche.