Choral Works to Listen to

Spiderman80884

Hi, I'm looking for some general information. I've been wanting to find out more about some choral work. As an example, I've found Mozart's Requiem and am blown away with it's power.

Can anybody suggest to me similar choral work that I could check out?

Thanks in advance.

tSubh Dearg

Moved into a seperate thread as I think you'll get a better response.

Personally, I like Verdi's Requiem and Fauré's Requiem both are amazing pieces of work, though completely different to each other, and to the Mozart.

Sandwich

Considered by the gurus to be inferior to his Messa Solemnis (which I like very well), but if I were being banished to that mythical desert island with my ten discs, Beethovens mass in C would be one of them. Love it from beginning to end.
The Gloria would almost make me believe in God.

Idleater

Sandwich wrote: »

Beethovens mass in C would be one of them. Love it from beginning to end.

I heard that one recently and really liked it.

On a more modernish note, I recently got something from James McMillian on SACD which sounds very good. There are some subtle harmonies as well as some full choir parts.

The Mad Hatter

Wow, reading this thread made me realise how very long it's been since I listened to choral music.

Those that are important to me:

Janacek: Glagolithic Mass
Mahler: Symphony No. 8
Beethoven: Choral Fantasy
Part: Passio

(Though that's in no particular order...)

The more dramatic of those are certainly the Beethoven and the Mahler, though the Janacek packs quite a punch at times too (plus you can listen to it if you don't have a whole hour to spare).

Also, try out French composer Durfle, whose music was very aptly compared by a lecturer of mine as 'the musical equivalent of your favourite ice-cream flavour'.

Spiderman80884

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

Wow, reading this thread made me realise how very long it's been since I listened to choral music.

Those that are important to me:

Janacek: Glagolithic Mass
Mahler: Symphony No. 8
Beethoven: Choral Fantasy
Part: Passio

(Though that's in no particular order...)

The more dramatic of those are certainly the Beethoven and the Mahler, though the Janacek packs quite a punch at times too (plus you can listen to it if you don't have a whole hour to spare).

Also, try out French composer Durfle, whose music was very aptly compared by a lecturer of mine as 'the musical equivalent of your favourite ice-cream flavour'.

This is great stuff! Think I'm going to end up spending a few quid in the next few weeks.

As a matter of interest, are the likes of HMV, Golden Discs reasonable enough places to source classical music or are there any particular music shops around Dublin that 'specialise' in classical music (for a beginner like me, like)?

The Mad Hatter

Spiderman80884 wrote: »

This is great stuff! Think I'm going to end up spending a few quid in the next few weeks.

As a matter of interest, are the likes of HMV, Golden Discs reasonable enough places to source classical music or are there any particular music shops around Dublin that 'specialise' in classical music (for a beginner like me, like)?

The only place to buy classical music in Ireland (at least, that I know of) is Tower Records off Grafton Street, though you'll usually find a better deal on Amazon or on the iTunes store.

And, glad to be of service:)

tSubh Dearg

Ah I was just about to come back and mention Mahler's 8th symphony. It is really an amazing piece of music.

If you'd like to hear the Gagolithic Mass without purchasing, it's being performed in the NCH on Friday 20th and will probably be broadcast on Lyric from 8pm, along with Beethoven's 3rd Symphony.

Oh Haydn's Creation is also a really interesting choral piece. Personally I love the opening movement which depicts chaos and then the contrast with the delicacy of the opening choral bars depicting the spirit of God, moving across the face of the waters and creating light.

The Mad Hatter

tSubh Dearg wrote: »

Ah I was just about to come back and mention Mahler's 8th symphony. It is really an amazing piece of music.

If you'd like to hear the Gagolithic Mass without purchasing, it's being performed in the NCH on Friday 20th and will probably be broadcast on Lyric from 8pm, along with Beethoven's 3rd Symphony.

Oh Haydn's Creation is also a really interesting choral piece. Personally I love the opening movement which depicts chaos and then the contrast with the delicacy of the opening choral bars depicting the spirit of God, moving across the face of the waters and creating light.

Oh, cool, I'm on midterm that week! *goes to NCH website*

tSubh Dearg

If it's sold out online, you'll get resales on the day from 7pm. I've gotten into loads of sold out concerts that way, so long as you don't mind where you're sitting.

Now I'll have to give myself an infraction for going off topic.

The Mad Hatter

tSubh Dearg wrote: »

If it's sold out online, you'll get resales on the day from 7pm. I've gotten into loads of sold out concerts that way, so long as you don't mind where you're sitting.

Yeah, I know, but I don't really want to risk heading across the country to find that there aren't enough spare tickets available...

Er...should I get back on topic now?

tSubh Dearg

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

Yeah, I know, but I don't really want to risk heading across the country to find that there aren't enough spare tickets available...

Er...should I get back on topic now?

Probably.

We sang a really lovely choral piece a couple of years ago. It was a mass and I want to say it was by Mahler and was his Mass in G, but I've not gone googling yet to find out if he even wrote such a piece. However, it was absolutely beautiful in places, really haunting and atmospheric sound.

Norrdeth

Check out Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen, it's an amazing requiem choral work.
Just got the vocal score the other day, still fascinated by it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VggXas5rJk
Here's a Dutch choir doing it, unfortunately it's only the organ version.
and the Latin pronunciation's a bit muddled but otherwise it's a lovely performance!

evolving_doors

Agree with the Morten Lauridsen

Here's a good rendition of 'sure on this shining night'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icp4bNb7TDI&feature=related

wet-paint

Spiderman80884 wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking for some general information. I've been wanting to find out more about some choral work. As an example, I've found Mozart's Requiem and am blown away with it's power.

Can anybody suggest to me similar choral work that I could check out?

Thanks in advance.

I recommend some contemporary composers like Eric Whitacre and his Lux Aurumque, Sleep or Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, or R. Murray Schaefer for more avant garde works, like Snow Forms or Mini Wanka.
Moses Hogan was a great one for rousing versions of negro spirituals, if that's your bag.

If it's powerful pieces you like, try googling for Hymn of The Red October by Basil Poledouris, that's a good example of a stirring marching song, especially the latter half.

There are also Irish composers like Mary McAulliffe, Michael McGlynn of Anuna and Douglas Gunn.

funky penguin

Brahms' German Requiem. We're singing it this year in the college's choral society and my God what a piece:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU-qesI_ADs

and movt 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kil29XlkI78

Actually, on the subject of Eric Whitacre....WHAT A DREAMBOAT!

Doshea3

BRAHMS. WHERE???

funky penguin

In Maynooth, on the 29th. Oh my God its far closer than I thought.

http://music.nuim.ie/newsevents/sundayconcerts

WE ARE ****ED!!!!

Should be a good afternoon, we're singing Schubert's mass in Bb major.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yiTG_mM0zs

Norrdeth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvpONvhqsDg

The first song is the one Vaughan Williams used in his Fantasia!!

Doshea3

Wow! A good lineup of soloists too...I know Sylvia and Ross very well!

Maynooth is rather far away for me, but I might see what I can do. I certainly shan't miss Stephen Hough and the Irish Chamber Orchestra that evening in the NCH though!

banquo

Doshea3 wrote: »

Maynooth is rather far away for me

That's as much a premise for a house party as I require!

Hotel Rob? I'm ushering at the damned thing.