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Track(s) taken from CDA66190

Ascendens Christus in altum

composer
Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
1572
author of text
Anonymous - liturgical
Final Responsory of the Second Nocturne of Matins, Ascension Day

Westminster Cathedral Choir, David Hill (conductor)
Recording details: May 1985
Westminster Cathedral, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Mark Brown
Engineered by Antony Howell
Release date: March 1987
Total duration: 5 minutes 1 seconds
 

Reviews

‘David Hill and the Choir of Westminster Cathedral have repeated the spectacular success of their earlier Gramophone Award-winning record’ (Gramophone)

‘Superb music, and the listener is thrillingly involved when the sound so successfully combines immediacy and body, yet remains admirably coloured by the Westminster resonance’ (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)

‘Magnificent!’ (Hi-Fi News)
The motet Ascendens Christus is specified by Victoria In Ascensione Domini and the text comes from the last Responsorium of the Second Nocturn of Matins for that Feast. It was published five times in Victoria’s lifetime. Like O magnum mysterium, it first came out in 1572, and once again Victoria chose to make a Mass upon it which was published in 1592.

In perfect accord with the meaning of the words, Ascendens Christus is joyous and brilliant with strong rising phrases and ringing Alleluia motives. Again in accord with the origin of the text in a Responsorium, the musical plan is ABCB. The work is in two distinct halves. It is for five voice parts (SSATB).

from notes by Bruno Turner © 1985

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