Lauridsen: Northwest Journey

Editorial Reviews
Seattle Times, November 2, 2000
"...recent output of Morten Lauridsen is collected on this remarkably fine...disc. "Northwest Journey" shows the breadth of which Lauridsen is capable..."

From the Label
With its Grammy nomination in 1998, Lauridsen Lux Aeterna(RCM19705) thrust Morten Lauridsen firmly into the international limelight. The collection of music presented on this disc shows many of the same as well as many different facets of this marvelously inventive and complex composer – from the jazz- inspired song that opens it to the powerful hymn that concludes it. Along the way, there are moments of profound introspection and unbridled joy, of repose and melancholy, of spiritual... read more

Lauridsen: Northwest Journey

Tracks:

Where Have The Actors Gone (Sunny Wilkinson, vocal: Shelly Berg, piano)
Dirait-on (Jane Thorngren, soprano; James Drollinger, baritone; Morten Lauridsen, piano)
Ubi Caritas Et Amor (Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor)
A Winter Come (Jane Thorngren, soprano; Ralph Grierson, piano)
A Winter Come (Jane Thorngren, soprano; Ralph Grierson, piano)
A Winter Come (Jane Thorngren, soprano; Ralph Grierson, piano)
A Winter Come (Jane Thorngren, soprano; Ralph Grierson, piano)
A Winter Come (Jane Thorngren, soprano; Ralph Grierson, piano)
A Winter Come (Jane Thorngren, soprano; Ralph Grierson, piano)
Variations (Ralph Grierson, piano)
Madrigali (Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor)
Madrigali (Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor)
Madrigali (Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor)
Madrigali (Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor)
Madrigali (Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor)
Madrigali (Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor)
Cuatro Canciones (Anne Marie Ketchum, soprano; Viklarbo Chamber Ensemble, Wendy Prober, piano; Amanda Walker, clarinet; Sebastian Toettcher, cello)
Cuatro Canciones (Anne Marie Ketchum, soprano; Viklarbo Chamber Ensemble, Wendy Prober, piano; Amanda Walker, clarinet; Sebastian Toettcher, cello)
Cuatro Canciones (Anne Marie Ketchum, soprano; Viklarbo Chamber Ensemble, Wendy Prober, piano; Amanda Walker, clarinet; Sebastian Toettcher, cello)
Cuatro Canciones (Anne Marie Ketchum, soprano; Viklarbo Chamber Ensemble, Wendy Prober, piano; Amanda Walker, clarinet; Sebastian Toettcher, cello)
O Magnum Mysterium (Jane Thorngren, soprano; Morten Lauridsen, piano)

Customer Reviews:

great music - nasty voices.......2007-01-07

Lauridsen ROCKS! He's amazing - such diverse, beautiful music that should be savoured by listeners and performers alike. Sadly though, a certain soprano voice just grated on me............his Magnum Mysterium is so gentle and sublime and angelic - and the wobbling vibrato of the soloist has made this CD very difficult for me to listen to - even as a reference point! oh dear!

Spectacular.......2003-08-13

This modest, relatively cheap CD has some absolutely spectacular vocal music that can blast the pants of much in the choral repetoire. Ubi Caritas (track 3) alone makes this CD worth $... While very original, Lauridsen's heavily vocal music reminds me of Mahler, Brahms, and Copland.

A journey to remember.......2003-01-15

There is nothing more intimate then the human voice. I am a voice major at a university. Nothing speaks to me more highly then choral music. I was a little skeptical about this CD when I first got it. I have since fallen in love with every aspect of it. Of course if you get this CD you must get the companion CD Lux Aeterna by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. You cannot have one without the other.

Inspired and Insightful Work!.......2002-11-16

This is a very interesting CD! Using a small group or soloists to perform works that are usually done with large choral groups gives an entirely different sound and feel to this music. I'm very familiar with O Magnum Mysterium, one of the great modern choral works, having sung it myself or heard it performed many times. But sung with a single soprano soloist, it has an intimate, emotional appeal that I've never experienced before! A small group performing Ubi Caritas also gives an astounding clarity to the work that is quite different! I would definitely recommend this CD to any classical music lover.

Morten Lauridsen is a treasure!

one word: WONDERFUL!.......2002-02-06

I was given a copy of NORTHWEST JOURNEY for Christmas. Probably the best gift of music I've received ever.

The opening song, Where Have All the Actors Gone, with Sunny Wilkinson singing and Shelley Berg on piano, is I think one of Lauridsen's finest. Ms. Wilkinson's voice is warm and expressive, fitting the song's lyrics and mood perfectly. The piano playing is also marvelous.

On Dirait-On which can also be heard in its choral version on the Lauridsen album, LUX AETERNA, is to my ear more beautiful as a duet. While the choral version is lovely, it's hard to match Jane Thorngren and James Drollinger's performances.

The song cycle A Winter Come is finely sung also. My favorite of the Madrigali is track #16: the chorus is well-blended and their singing is uplifting as well as solemn.

To finish the album, Jane Thorngren leaves us with the MOST INSPIRING rendition of O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM I have and will have ever heard. I leave this track on repeat several times in the car driving home from work, and every moment is a joy.

This album has been playing daily in my car. I cannot say enough to recommend it.

Music Review: