New recording from Vox Clamantis

[Nick Armstrong]

I'd be very interested in opinions from experienced choral folk about this new album (featured in CD Review last Saturday)



- especially the Duruflé, Poulenc and Messiaen tracks

It's available on Spotify and Qobuz, and I've been listening to it a lot.

[Pulcinella]

I'd be very interested in opinions from experienced choral folk about this new album (featured in CD Review last Saturday)

- especially the Duruflé, Poulenc and Messiaen tracks

It's available on Spotify and Qobuz, and I've been listening to it a lot.

Just downloaded and started listening to it now: nice acoustic, but the first Duruflé sounds a bit rushed.
Could get to like it though, and I can appreciate its appeal.
Don't see any mention in the listings of last Saturday's programme, though; what was said?

[BasilHarwood]

I don’t like the close mic sound - it makes it sounds breathy, particularly top voices.

Very much enjoy the pronunciation, lots of rolled r’s, particularly at the end of words!

Not one for me but I guess I prefer more front the the sound, and more use of dynamic colour that is text led.

[Nevilevelis]

I'd be very interested in opinions from experienced choral folk about this new album (featured in CD Review last Saturday)



- especially the Duruflé, Poulenc and Messiaen tracks

It's available on Spotify and Qobuz, and I've been listening to it a lot.

I agree entirely with Jeremy Summerley's comments on last Saturday's Record Review...

[Pulcinella]

I agree entirely with Jeremy Summerley's comments on last Saturday's Record Review...

Which were what?
Having now listened right through, I'm not sure I would want to do so again, though the idea of breaking up the Poulenc set worked well (perhaps for a concert if not repeated listening). Still, I prefer it (their sound) to the Carice Singers offering of Parry that BH and I mention in the Gloucester CE thread, and which I see Summerley produced!

[oddoneout]

I think this must be what I heard a snippet of while I was sitting in a carpark deciding where to go next. The general opinion seemed to be that the Durufle was too fast for their liking; closer to how the gregorian chant would be sung but adrift(I think they said) from the intentions/markings of the composer. The Ubi Caritas that was played was certainly on the brisk side. I didn't find it an issue, as I've sung it at that sort of speed as well as the more usual, but I understand the argument as to whether it's justifiable to ignore the composer's indications. I did wonder what speed the other 3 were taken at - Tu es Petrus is faster anyway, so did that change to the same degree?
Can't comment on the sound - an ordinary car radio in a busy carpark isn't the best for fine detail, although the overall effect I enjoyed - and in any case I was singing along....

[Pulcinella]

Just downloaded and started listening to it now: nice acoustic, but the first Duruflé sounds a bit rushed.
Could get to like it though, and I can appreciate its appeal.
Don't see any mention in the listings of last Saturday's programme, though; what was said?

... The general opinion seemed to be that the Durufle was too fast for their liking; closer to how the gregorian chant would be sung but adrift(I think they said) from the intentions/markings of the composer. The Ubi Caritas that was played was certainly on the brisk side. I didn't find it an issue, as I've sung it at that sort of speed as well as the more usual, but I understand the argument as to whether it's justifiable to ignore the composer's indications. I did wonder what speed the other 3 were taken at - Tu es Petrus is faster anyway, so did that change to the same degree?
....

Looks like we have a candidate for the 'Classical music getting faster?' thread.

[Nevilevelis]

Which were what?
Having now listened right through, I'm not sure I would want to do so again, though the idea of breaking up the Poulenc set worked well (perhaps for a concert if not repeated listening). Still, I prefer it (their sound) to the Carice Singers offering of Parry that BH and I mention in the Gloucester CE thread, and which I see Summerley produced!

c. 2:05:35

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/m0000kfj

[Nick Armstrong]

what was said?

oddoneout summarises it neatly in #6

I think Ubi caritas works very well at the tempo chosen in the recording, and I had no issue with the tempi for the second and third motets.

I did find the slow speed chosen for Tantum ergo far less convincing - especially after the pace of the related Pange lingua chant just before.

However, the sound of the choir and the recording I am currently enjoying very much. There was another comment about it from Jeremy Summerly later in his survey, to the effect that the performance was too clean, too tidy, a bit soulless was what I inferred.

On the contrary, I'm really enjoying hearing the music performed with absolute precision (especially the Poulenc) and sound which to my ears is clean yet warm and which really allows the music to speak for itself.

It's getting a lot of airtime in Caliban Towers....

[Nick Armstrong]

Looks like we have a candidate for the 'Classical music getting faster?' thread.

Not in the case of Tantum ergo