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Track(s) taken from CDA68056

Morning star

First line:
Christ is the morning star
composer
2007; SATB unaccompanied; composed to mark the 175th anniversary of Durham University
author of text
Prayer above the tomb of St Bede in Durham Cathedral

Polyphony, Stephen Layton (conductor)
Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
CD-Quality:
Studio Master:
CD-Quality:
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Recording details: August 2013
All Hallows, Gospel Oak, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Adrian Peacock
Engineered by David Hinitt
Release date: October 2014
Total duration: 2 minutes 41 seconds
 

Other recordings available for download

The Gesualdo Six, Owain Park (director)

Reviews

‘This one is something special. In part this is because of the choice of repertoire, which mixes the familiar and the less-often heard, and includes two first recordings, and in part it is because of the exquisite sound produced by Polyphony … highly recommended’ (Gramophone)

‘The ever-excellent Polyphony and Stephen Layton have put together a very special disc of music by Pärt for the composer’s 80th birthday ... The hour-long programme ranges from Solfeggio (1963) to the recent Virgencita (2012) in its first recording. The perfectly balanced, richly warm tones of Polyphony, especially its outstanding bass section, suit Pärt’s translucent textures extremely well, and one can’t help but admire the power of this supposedly ‘simple’ music’ (Choir & Organ)» More

‘There is no shortage of recitals of Arvo Pärt's shorter choral works in catalogue, but anything by Polyphony is always welcome … Polyphony's sound is, as always, so rich and beautiful that there is no sense of anything missing’ (BBC Music Magazine)» More
PERFORMANCE
RECORDING

‘This disc of Pärt's choral music is one of the most singularly beautiful recordings I've heard this year … this is a stunning addition to Pärt’s ever-increasing discography and is unreservedly recommended’ (International Record Review)» More
A number of Arvo Pärt's works are the result of commissions to mark significant anniversaries. In the case of Morning star it was the 175th birthday of the north-English Durham University in 2007 (although the first performance was given by the University’s choir in London’s church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in December that year). Just as he has repeatedly shown a knack of selecting place- and people-specific texts for such occasional pieces, Pärt chose a prayer inscribed above the tomb of St Bede—better known perhaps as the scholar The Venerable Bede—in Durham’s mighty cathedral.

from notes by Meurig Bowen © 2014

Plusieurs pièces de Pärt furent commandées à l’occasion d’anniversaires marquants. Dans le cas de Morning star (2007), il s’agissait du cent soixante-quinzième anniversaire de la Durham University, dans le nord de l’Angleterre (même si ce fut en l’église londonienne de Saint Martin-in-the-Fields que le chœur de l’université créa cette œuvre, en décembre de cette année-là). Avec son chic habituel pour choisir des textes adaptés aux lieux et aux personnes célébrés, Pärt retint une prière inscrite au-dessus de la tombe de saint Bède—peut-être mieux connu sous le nom de saint Bède le Vénérable—, dans l’imposante cathédrale de Durham.

extrait des notes rédigées par Meurig Bowen © 2014
Français: Hypérion

Einige Stücke von Pärt sind Auftragswerke anläßlich besonderer Gedenktage. Bei Morning star war es der 175. Geburtstag der nordenglischen Durham University im Jahre 2007 (die Uraufführung mit dem Chor der Universität fand jedoch in der Londoner Kirche St Martin-in-the-Fields im Dezember desselben Jahres statt). Mit dem gleichen Geschick, das er schon bei der Auswahl von orts- und personenbezogenen Texten für solche Gelegenheitswerke gezeigt hatte, wählte Pärt hier ein Gebet aus einer Inschrift am Grabmal von St. Bede—der Gelehrte ist vielleicht besser als The Venerable Bede („Beda, der Ehrwürdige“) bekannt—in der mächtigen Kathedrale von Durham.

aus dem Begleittext von Meurig Bowen © 2014
Deutsch: Christiane Frobenius

Other albums featuring this work

Morning star
Studio Master: CDA68404Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
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