Requiem For My Friend - Preisner / Rewakowicz, Kasprzyk, Sinfonia Varsovia, et al

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Known more for his film scores than for his full-length concert works, Zbigniew Preisner injects a good dose of his famed film score methodologies into this recording. Divided into two parts, Requiem and Life, this work is outstanding in its first nine movements, capturing soaring choral blasts that startle and hold the ear steadily, as does the occasional churning organ and the chamber ensemble, which seems to make far more sound than is possible. The Requiem as a whole is also stylistically cleaved in two: Life heads wholeheartedly into the realm of filmic composition (doing so in four episodes). Resolution is always on the horizon, but the musical tensions seem directed toward a visual conclusion, rather than any kind of sonic release or resolution. To that end, the music itself, especially early in Life, is a bit thin. Maybe it's the alto saxophone, which plays simple figures that get washed out in the cavernous audio. Or maybe it's the building march-like cadence of the "Apocalypse "episode, which seems to announce a particular character without ever producing one. Perhaps it's the desire to create mood without exploring the complexities. As film music, this is excellent stuff, easily capable of throwing musical beams on action. As a purely sonic phenomenon, it's sometimes too much, sometimes too little, and only briefly balanced between the two. --Andrew Bartlett

Requiem For My Friend - Preisner / Rewakowicz, Kasprzyk, Sinfonia Varsovia, et al, Music, Zbigniew Preisner, Piotr Janosik, Zbigniew Preisner, Jacek Kaspszyk, Sinfonia Varsovia, Leszek Mozdzer, Elzbieta Towarnicka, Piotr Kusiewicz, Lukasz Syrnicki, Arkadiusz Kubica, Marek Mós, Roman Rewakowicz, Jacek Kaspszyk, Elzbieta Towamicka, Varsov Chamber Choir, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral & Symphonic, Vocal, Vocal Music

Requiem For My Friend - Preisner / Rewakowicz, Kasprzyk, Sinfonia Varsovia, et al
Average customer rating:

If you like Gorecki and Part you'll love this cd

A Powerful, Mystical Experience

Amazing, peaceful music

A Beautiful Work

minor

Requiem For My Friend - Preisner / Rewakowicz, Kasprzyk, Sinfonia Varsovia, et al
Roman Rewakowicz , Jacek Kaspszyk , Elzbieta Towarnicka , and Varsov Chamber Choir
Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000I3XG
Release Date: 1999-02-16

Tracks:

Part One Requem: Officium
Part One Requem: Kyrie Eleison
Part One Requem: Dies Irae
Part One Requem: Offertorium
Part One Requem: Sanctus
Part One Requem: Agnus Dei
Part One Requem: Lux Aeterna
Part One Requem: Lacrimosa
Part One Requem: Epitaphium
Part Two Life: Meeting
Part Two Life: Discovering The World
Part Two Life: Love
Part Two Life: Kai Kairos
Part Two Life: Ascende Huc
Part Two Life: Veni Et Vidi
Part Two Life: Qui Erat Et Qui Est
Part Two Life: Lacrimosa - Day Of Tears
Part Two Life: Prayer

Amazon.com

Known more for his film scores than for his full-length concert works, Zbigniew Preisner injects a good dose of his famed film score methodologies into this recording. Divided into two parts, Requiem and Life, this work is outstanding in its first nine movements, capturing soaring choral blasts that startle and hold the ear steadily, as does the occasional churning organ and the chamber ensemble, which seems to make far more sound than is possible. The Requiem as a whole is also stylistically cleaved in two: Life heads wholeheartedly into the realm of filmic composition (doing so in four episodes). Resolution is always on the horizon, but the musical tensions seem directed toward a visual conclusion, rather than any kind of sonic release or resolution. To that end, the music itself, especially early in Life, is a bit thin. Maybe it's the alto saxophone, which plays simple figures that get washed out in the cavernous audio. Or maybe it's the building march-like cadence of the "Apocalypse "episode, which seems to announce a particular character without ever producing one. Perhaps it's the desire to create mood without exploring the complexities. As film music, this is excellent stuff, easily capable of throwing musical beams on action. As a purely sonic phenomenon, it's sometimes too much, sometimes too little, and only briefly balanced between the two. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

If you like Gorecki and Part you'll love this cd.......2007-01-29

The music is haunting, and achingly beautiful. I am not one who especially loves the operatic soprano voice, and about the only opera I an take is Puccini. However, if you like the solo in Gorecki's Sym. #3, for example, you will love this cd. The sound is fine, with a cathedral-like ambiance. I own over a thousand classical cds and this is on my top 50 rack.

A Powerful, Mystical Experience.......2005-12-29

This evocative composition, as it slowly unfolds, takes the listener on an emotional and spiritual journey. Whether or not you understand all of the segments of the traditional Latin Requiem text, plus the additional Greek and Polish lyrics, the piece is powerful to both the inexperienced and highly discerning listener. Listeners will observe the work to be in two distinct parts with contrasting vocal and orchestral forces; however, concept, thematic material, and composition style help to unify this disparate pairing of forces.

The first part features a highly unusual adult male SATB quartet, soprano soloist, string quartet, organ, and percussion.
The second part's vocal forces include an SATB choir, soprano and countertenor soloists, plus an additional voice sung on this recording by a youth. The orchestral forces of the second part include the large symphonic forces of a film score, and some unusual instruments for a Requiem including alto saxophone and cimbalom.

One of the features that make this recording particularly successful is the acoustics of the recording locations: the two utilized for this recording are extremely rich with reverberation. This reverberation sustains the long musical lines and fills the piece to accommodate the slowly unfolding harmonic progressions. Architecturally, the work's construction is solid, with structural pillars unifying the first and second parts, with a definite roadmap to take the listener on an emotional journey.

I am delighted to hear this recording before conducting its American premiere at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, 2006 at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For additional information, call (260)426-7421 ext. 24.

Amazing, peaceful music.......2005-04-12

I love requiems and this CD is an incredible addition to my collection. Both of the different pieces are equally moving. I highly recomend this one!

A Beautiful Work.......2004-12-30

I believe the details of this work are already described quite well in the other reviews. I would like to add that although it is fairly slow and somber, it is miraculously powerful. Great buy.

minor.......2004-11-09