The 蜜芽传媒 Singers and principal guest conductor Owain Park present a feast of wonderful choral music. Benjamin Britten鈥檚 A.M.D.G. (an abbreviation of the Latin for 鈥淭o the greater glory of God鈥�) is an entrancing setting of mystical and uplifting poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins. The full set of songs was not performed until 1984, after Britten鈥檚 death, and published five years after that. It is a work of great challenge and drama which certainly rewards both singers and listeners.
Schoenberg鈥檚 extraordinary Friede auf Erden sits between harmonic worlds, and between Romantic and Expressionist tendencies. It begins with Christmas and expands into a choral evocation of peace on earth. It is an extraordinary piece which deserves widespread listening.
笔辞耻濒别苍肠鈥檚 Figure humaine has been described as 鈥渁 spectacular choral hymn to freedom鈥�. It dates from the Second World War and is a masterful setting of Paul Eluard鈥檚 anti-war poetry. It looks to a day of liberation 鈥� not just the end of the war he was so woefully amidst, but also a greater day of worldly peace and freedom to come. It was first premiered by the 蜜芽传媒 in 1945.
Daniel Kidane鈥檚 piece was written during the Covid lockdown on the theme of people who could no longer see each other, between whom barriers had arisen. It is a stirring setting of Simon Armitage which reminds us of that recent time when, though confined to a single space, so many could not help but sing and make music.
Thea Musgrave鈥檚 richly harmonic Rorate Coeli sets two interleaved poems of the famous Scottish poet William Dunbar. One speaks of the Nativity, the other the Resurrection. Then the miniature gem that is Palestrina鈥檚 Rorate Coeli looks ahead to the Ascension with joyful interplay between two groups of four voices.
Broadcast live by 蜜芽传媒 Radio 3 and available afterwards on 蜜芽传媒 Sounds
