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I was listening to the radio this afternoon and heard the requiem. As a teenager I sang it either in 1964 or 1965, over 50 years ago! Parts of this are extraordinarily beautiful to me and hold great personal meaning. Hearing the requiem this afternoon for just a moment brought me back to my younger days. I saw the world as it was then, and I felt I thought as I did then. But just for a moment. This was time travel and was both remarkable and also sad because of all that has happened since. But the requiem still has beauty for me. I am not sure if I prefer a boy soprano or a female for the pie jesu. Any recommendations for a wonderful performance. Thanks Norm
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The classic 1967 recording, conducted by Wilcott:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Apr07/Faure_3799942.htm
A recent version available in hybrid SACD, conducted by Cleobury, with a much better baritone soloist and the original orchestration:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2014/Oct14/Faure_requiem_KGS0005.htm
Choir sound gets harsh at times but no matter-- feels like being at an actual Mass as opposed to a performance. To me at least.
That's the way I feel about Celibidache's B-Minor Mass (Munich). It sounds like a religious rite rather than a musical performance.
Willcocks could do the same--the first live "Dream of Gerontius" I heard was conducted by Sir David, in Rhode Island, believe it or not. Furthermore, at a summer music camp, he and Richard Marlowe were my kids' vocal coaches... .
I think that Willcocks' greatest achievement on record was his "An Oxford Elegy," the greatest RVW piece that almost nobody has heard.
ATB,
John
Actually, next on my download list is Richter's Mass and Passion.
Do you still think these are a good choice for a newby in a post HIP world? I've not internalised much of Bach's sacred music.
My only expsosure to the Bm Mass is Marriner's and for the Passion it was Herrewghe on Harmonia Mundi.
It is I think possible to overstate the extent to which the fact that JS Bach's works were rarely performed in public for several decades means that there was a complete break in performance tradition, at least to the extent that the music became something that had to be figured out like Egyptian hieroglyphics.
But it is also true that the concept of being true to the original was pretty much ignored until the beginning of the 20th-c., and really only got traction in the 1960s, and only became relatively commonplace in the 1980s.
Richter's stuff is great, but I think it is no longer the best place to start. A bit dated in style and sound. (OK, asbestos undies are now ON.)
That said, I would not say that Celibidache's B Minor should be one's first or only B-Minor Mass, either.
So, drum roll please!
My choice among the more than 50 versions out there is:
Bach: Mass In B Minor / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan
Another magnificent SACD (2 discs) from BIS.
Image above, link below.
Let the wailing and gnashing of teeth begin!
ATB,
John
My first exposure to the Mass was Marriner's on Philips. I suppose it was a great place to start.
I've been listening to samples of the Linn Records Dunedin Consort, and I don't think I'm going to investigate further, although the Press goes wild over this bare-bones group. I don't have prejudice one way or the other over Period performance.
Tenebrae is very good and has many fans. It has real drama, nuance, spirituality and good singing plus an airy recording. Lovely Pie Jesu.Rutter is a very good version - very clear recording and good singing. He keeps it moving but it is light and intimate at the same time. Once you've heard it once you can get a bit addicted to this performance.
The Sixteen/Harry Carpenter has fans here in the UK. It's another very good version. Characterful version of the Pie Jesu with added vibrato - I like it - sounds strangely like folk singing here, or even one of the Songs of the Auvergne. Touching and quite secular, but that's OK with me. The Agnus Dei is on YT if you want a sample. Good clear recording.
These would be my top three versions. All are satisfying in their own way. Tenebrae has an added dimension of drama that is hard to resist, but I'd happily listen to either of the others and in places the Sixteen gets my vote.
Accentus isn't far behind at all - another good and satisfying version. The recording isn't quite as clear and focussed as the above versions, though it's perfectly smooth. I can see why this version has fans.
I didn't find Kings/Willcox competitive in any particular way. The later Kings version under Cleobury is a lot better. Another good version, though not my fave. Pie Jesu is rather bland, for instance
Marriner is OK to good - not the equivalent of the better versions, plus there is better recorded sound, which matters with voices, choirs and clarity.
Nadia Boulanger 1968 with the BBC SO is worth a one-off listen, though it's not a keeper - it's on Youtube. There's also a 40s version with Durufle on organ. A great musician and you can sense the reverence in the performance. Maybe too much reverence...... There's a 1962 Carnegie Hall live version on YT as well.
I found Shaw in places rather un-nuanced and heavy, and the thick recording doesn't help. Going the other way Herreweghe arguably milks the emotion a little too much, though there is certainly spirituality there.
Jarvi is good, but not really up with the best.
Edits: 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16 11/02/16
Andy, not Harry Carpenter but Harry Christophers. The late Harry Carpenter was a boxing commentator - " Know what I mean 'arry?"( Frank Bruno).
My favorite: Harry Mullan of Boxing News. Did a bit of photography work (free) for Harry in the late 70's along with a writer friend here on the West Coast.
Requiems are almost synonymous with boxing. An easy slip of the mind....
I prefer his strings and harp to organ.
I only listened to samples of the latest King College version, but I'd swear the soloist in the Pie Jesu runs into intonation problems. A few notes flat?
Rutter is billed as the 1893 version, and The Sixteen sounds equally smaller scale, likewise the Tenebrae.There is a very audible harp on the Sixteen as well as Rutter. It's not so audible on Tenebrae. The harp doesn't seem to appear in the first 2 versions, but it's in the final orchestral version. Maybe the Sixteen and Tenebrae just use a scaled down version of that score, or maybe they juggle some of the orchestrations.
I really think these chamber versions sound way better than the full orchestral versions.
Edits: 11/02/16 11/02/16
OK, some might dare to call it 'historically informed', but it's the gold standard in this household.
.
N
If you want RBCD, Shaw on Telarc has been a chestnut recommendation for a long time. Bonus points for the pairing with the Durufle requiem.
Happy listening,
Jim
"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno
I have an Argo LP of a lovely performance with the Choir of St John's College Cambridge and the ASMF, conducted by George Guest. The Pie Jesu is sung by Jonathan Bond.
I also have a Columbia LP recorded in Tokyo, conducted by Kazuo Yamada. I think it is a remarkable performance, but would not recommend it as your only recording.
I am so-so on the Requiem, but, were I to pick the music for my own funeral (I am such a jolly sort), Cantique de Jean Racine would be on the program.
I got this CD because of the Cantique, and it has become my go-to recording of that; but the Requiem is also exceptional, and perhaps the best-recorded version I have heard.
BTW, I was a boy soprano; I sang the Requiem (but not the solo) circa 1967.
ATB,
John
Faure' Requiem in the original version is my favorite - a very intimate performance. Phillip Herreweghe on Harmonia Mundi has a very nice recording.
Here's another one, very nice performance from Sylvia McNair on Pie Jesu. May have audible watermarking which causes a 'warble', at least the streaming version on Spotify seemed to. Maybe the CD is OK?
I'm sure you will get several recommendations - I think this is a nice one.
and multichannel. Lovely.
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