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Track(s) taken from CDA67708

To Morning

First line:
O holy virgin! clad in purest white
composer
Gabriel Jackson (b1962)
2007; 5vv
author of text
William Blake (1757-1827)

Polyphony, Stephen Layton (conductor)
Recording details: January 2008
All Hallows, Gospel Oak, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Adrian Peacock
Engineered by David Hinitt
Release date: June 2009
Total duration: 2 minutes 26 seconds

Cover artwork: The Mysterious Portal. Arild Rosenkrantz (1870-1964)
Courtesy of Peter Nahum at The Leicester Galleries, London / © Bente Arendrup, Denmark
 

Other recordings available for download

The Rodolfus Choir, Ralph Allwood (conductor)

Reviews

‘An absolutely outstanding choral recording … after hearing that performance from Polyphony directed by Stephen Layton, it’s hard to believe that there’s another vocal ensemble that could bring such radiant perfection of voice and ensemble to bear on this music. Some of the sounds are just heart-stoppingly beautiful. A surfeit of beauty? Maybe, but such synergy of imagination and performance’ (BBC Radio 3 CD Review)

‘There are many striking features of this ravishing disc, beautifully and imaginatively performed by Stephen Layton and Polyphony … Jackson possesses an instinct for acoustic and vocal texture, but the beauty and sheer appeal of his vocal works, challenging as they are, are sculpted by an energising pragmatism open both to the professional and ambitious amateur choir’ (Gramophone)

‘Jackson has an unerring gift for the natural rhythms of language, resulting in delightfully unhurried miniatures that should suit any competent chamber choir … Polyphony deliver an intelligent and gripping musical performance at a very high standard. This sublime album comes highly recommended and the performances are another triumph for Polyphony and Stephen Layton’ (Musical Criticism.com)

‘The sopranos throughout represent the icing on the musical cake with their gloriously luminous, pure tone. Technical stuff out the way, this performance also satisfies the soul; Polyphony effortlessly evoke the music’s transcendent qualities in a performance awash with holy reverence. This is music and a performance that takes the ears and the mind heavenwards, whatever you believe’ (bbc.co.uk)
Scored for five voices (with divisions) without accompaniment, Gabriel Jackson’s setting of William Blake’s To Morning incorporates an innovative and distinctive harmonic language and carefully-crafted phrase structure which beautifully reflects the imagery of the text. Rich texture, characteristic use of modulation and tantalising moments of silence lead into climactic tutti entries. The piece was written for Polyphony, directed by Stephen Layton.

from notes by Ralph Allwood & Timothy Teague © 2015

Other albums featuring this work

Dreamland
HYP41Super-budget price sampler
Time and its Passing
The Rodolfus Choir, Ralph Allwood (conductor)
Studio Master: SIGCD445Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

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