Interactive poll XXL-26 - the choir edition

Krzysztof Penderecki: Agnus Dei

A composition for a mixed a capella chorus that Penderecki wrote to mark the death of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, a symbol of the spiritual resistance against the communist regime in Poland. He later included it as part of his Polish Requiem which he extended and rearranged several times. Agnus Dei was rearranged for eight cellos and first performed in the memorial service for Mstislav Rostropovich (cellist/conductor) in 2007 who conducted the first version of the requiem in the 1980s. I think it is worth hearing. I'm sorry but sometimes there is a problem with posting links.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4tiPx_07hE

Roberto De Simone: Kyrie

Contemporary and experimental choral music that is equally challenging and fun for both, the singers, and the audience. A quite restless lullaby, though. lol

Ennio Morricone: Dies Irae

I’m quite familiar with Morricone’s work but I wasn’t aware of this film score where he deals with religious themes. To discover new facets of a known artist is always fascinating!

Wim Mertens: Maximising the Audience

Known for his sophisticated avant-garde work Mertens manages to win my heart with this melodic composition for ensemble which reminds me to some extent of certain parts of Philip Glass’ iconic Songs of Liquid.

Phoenix: Mugur de Fluier

A truly beautiful folk-rock tune, with harmoniously integrated choral singing. Folk music is an almost endless source of inspiration and gives the music authenticity and uniqueness.

Mediaeval Bæbes: Memorare 

Medieval music, what an original choice! This music captivates with its simplicity and timeless beauty. The female voices are delicate and powerful at the same time and sound so fresh and youthful!

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I’m only halfway through the line-up and I'm clueless how to vote. Initially I was a bit sceptical in respect of this quite specific theme and am now all the more pleasantly surprised by the musical variety. Well done guys! 

1.        Mila:  I just fell in love with this one.  Damon Locks – Black Monument Ensemble “NOW (Forever Momentary Space)”  Repeating telephone or modem sounds, then steady beat of drums.  Trilling oboes and harp swirlies.  Slightly dissonant female vocals.  This is very infectious.  Oboe solo (with drums and cymbal crashes).  There are beautiful layerings of the female chorus with added higher voices, then back to jamming on the oboe (or is it a clarinet?  I should know, I knoW, but not sure).  All drops out except for the modem beep sound and the chorus, then back to drums and reeded instrument (lol, I cheated).  Swirlies return for another time.   The chorus is back, plaintively, reed and drums accompanying them.  Shimmery sounds end the piece.  That was fantastic.  😊 IF SHE’D CHOSEN:  Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble “Songs of Ascension” 

  2.        Kees:  I also fell in love with this one, fickle me.  But the never having heard quite the like of Mila's gave it second place for me.  Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & The Tra-la-la Band with Choir “Some Lonesome Corners So Many Flowers Bloom”  Counting out starts this one, it sounds like it’s in a big building, like a dance rehearsal.  Single notes of guitar step into the room, building a feeling of tension, then some layered male and female vocals create a choir sound.    There are some delicate little “plings,” here and there, subtle in the mix.  Male voices come to the fore in a kind of chant and also a round.  The women join in again, similarly to what the chanting/round thing is doing, yet different.  An orchestral swell now are in play, in a ascendant sound.  Single guitar notes with a bell-like sound, then some lush synth shimmers in and out, with some bowed type sounds, then becomes an echoed violin (although it may be being done with effects on another instrument), there are subtle fluted noises also.  Just gorgeous! Melancholy string sounds play with some orchestral hits (horns?) and drums.  The piece slowly fades to it’s end.  I expected a journey and I got one.  Well-done, Kees! *Note:  Sorry for the formatting glitch. 

3.        Christian: A third love, here is a more classical bent from my other choices.  Wim Mertens “Maximizing the Audience”  Solo piano, then cello added.  I already quite like this, for it’s more spare tone.  A more strident sense comes in for just a moment, then becomes contemplative again.  The vocals are all female, richly sung.  Smaller bowed instruments enter now, and the piece moves into a beautiful melody with all of the instrumentation.  A feeling of the tragic to my ear.  So far this is my favourite piece of all, perhaps not unsurprisingly.  I love watching the musician’s joy in the performance.  The pace begins to gallop along a bit, I get the feeling something new is about to happen in it.  The women rejoin, still rich, this now reminds me of mountain traveling, the curving road beneath and the icy summits above.  The pianist add his vocal and soars and swirls around the chorus.  The song builds to a majestic climactic ending.  Just lovely! IF HE’D CHOSEN:  Deep Forest “Sweet Lullaby”