![]() ![]() ![]() Decca have not helped their case any by superimposing on to All Hallows’ Church in Hampstead a resonance of such echoing proportions that it all coalesces into a kind of warm, conglomerate fug. What is sacred, what is secular? What is happy, what is sad? Which piece depicts the praise of God, which is a reflection on individual loneliness? Even more difficult to decipher, which is sung by Voces8 and which is sung by Tenebrae? It all sounds the same, irrespective of which of these two excellent choirs is doing the singing, who is doing the conducting, and what is added to the sonic mix by way of instrumental backing. If this is beginning to read like the ranting of a cynical ex-choral director, then simply play this CD and try to differentiate between the tracks. Here we have the consolidated outpourings of one of their leading lights, the Norwegian Ola Gjeilo. A whole generation of 30-something composers have latched on to this desire among choirs to make a nice noise and little else. It has lost its musical interest and become a vehicle for self-indulgent aural luxury. Something awful has happened to choral music over the past quarter of a century or so. 13-15 April 2015, All Hallows’ Church, Hampstead, London Support us financially by purchasing this from ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |