ARVO PART / HENRYK GORECKI / JOHN TAVENER - IKOS [EMI, 1994, USA]

This CD intersperses, to wonderful effect, famous and beautifully sung plainchant melodies such as "Ave Maris Stella" and "Alma Redemptoris Mater" with sacred music by three well-known New Mystic composers. Górecki's "Totus Tuus," with its constant repetition of "Maria", may get tiresome; but "Amen" (setting only the one word) is gripping throughout. Pärt is represented by his austere, oddly tense "Magnificat" and an unusually warm setting of the Beatitudes, which ends with a surprisingly florid organ solo. Tavener's giddy "Magnificat" and serene "Nunc Dimittis" are luminous; his "Funeral Ikos" sets an extraordinary Orthodox funeral text to a plain, heartbreaking melody. The gorgeous singing of the King's choir under Stephen Cleobury outshines even that of Sir David Willcocks's glory days. --Matthew Westphal

1. Alma Redemptoris Mater
   Composed by Gregorian Chant
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
2. Totus Tuus, for chorus, Op. 60
   Composed by Henryk Gorecki
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
3. Ave Maria, gratia plena, offertory in mode 8 for the 4th Sunday in Advent
   Composed by Gregorian Chant
   with Stuart Tibbs
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
4. Amen for chorus, Op 35
   Composed by Henryk Gorecki
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
5. Regina caeli, antiphon in Honor of Our Lady
   Composed by Gregorian Chant
   with Stuart Tibbs
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
6. Magnificat, for chorus
   Composed by Arvo Part
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
7. Alleluia. Venite ad me, alleluia with verse (All Saint's day)
   Composed by Gregorian Chant
   with Stuart Tibbs
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
8. The Beatitudes, for chorus & organ
   Composed by Arvo Part
   with David Goode, Guy Johnston
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
9. Beati mundo corde, communion in mode 1 for All Saints Day
   Composed by Gregorian Chant
   with Stuart Tibbs
   Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
   
   
10. Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, for chorus
    Composed by John Tavener
    Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
    
    
11. Requiem aeternam, introit in mode 6 (Liber Usualis 1807a)
    Composed by Gregorian Chant
    with Stuart Tibbs
    Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
    
    
12. Funeral Ikos, for chorus
    Composed by John Tavener
    Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
    
    
13. Ego sum resurrectio et vita, funeral antiphon
    Composed by Gregorian Chant
    with Stuart Tibbs
    Conducted by Stephen Cleobury
    
    
14. In Paradisum Angeli
    Composed by Gregorian Chant
    with David Goode, Guy Johnston
    Conducted by Stephen Cleobury

RAR

192 VBR