Tavener: Lamentations & Praises

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The composer calls this work "a liturgical drama," but there is nothing dramatic about it; it is more aptly described by the title of its three main sections, "Stasis." Set to texts from the Greek and Russian Orthodox Easter service sung in English interspersed with ancient Greek words, it is scored for male voices and an odd combination of strings, winds, and extra-large percussion instruments including a Byzantine monastery bell, a Tibetan temple bowl, a tam-tam, and a simantron (a wooden board struck with a hammer). The music, in Tavener's characteristic medieval, monastic, Byzantine style, is devout, contemplative, very slow, with endlessly sustained notes and chords, and based on structurally determined repetition. Anchored by bass or descant drones, the chorus moves in parallel chordal progressions, alternating with ornate, melismatic solos, and punctuated by regularly repeated crashes from the bell and bowl. Variety is created through changes of key, vocal and instrumental texture, and motivic material. Several sections culminate in climactic buildups of volume and intensity. Some of the music is very beautiful, but its repetitiousness and basically unchanging character make a sense of monotony unavoidable. Perhaps only listeners who share Tavener's own deep spirituality can fully enter into his musical world. The performance by Chanticleer is wonderful. The voices float with a transparent, pure, otherworldly sound--it seems unbelievable that the altos and sopranos, who go up to high F's and G's, are really male singers--and the instruments match them perfectly in tone and style. --Edith Eisler

Tracks:

Quem Terra Pontus Sidera
Ave Maria (Gregorian Chant)
Alma Redemptoris Mater
The Angel Cried Out
Angelicas Milicias
Wherewithal Shall A Young Man...
Love Is A Beautiful Dream
This Heart That Flutters Near My Heart
Wild Grass
Labbra Vermiglie E Belle
Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
Dulaman
Shenandoah
Spanish Carol
Love Is Letting Go
Blues In The Night
Wade In The Wate
We Shall Walk Through The Valley In Peace
Christmas Time Is Here

Amazon.com

With this disc, Chanticleer, the internationally renowned, all-male 12-voice chamber choir, celebrates its 25th anniversary. Presenting songs from earlier albums plus one not previously recorded, the selection displays the group's remarkable stylistic and linguistic versatility, as well as all the qualities that have made it famous: the impeccable precision and intonation; the pristine tonal purity; the deep, inner expressiveness; the infinitely variable range of colors, textures, dynamics and moods; and the incredible vocal control that allows voices to stand out as well as to blend into a seamless, sonorous whole. Not for nothing has the group been called "an orchestra of voices" with its ability to sound like a big band in chordal passages and to imitate bass pizzicati as well as patter-songs and gospel shouts. The sopranos take off into stratospheric heights with florid coloratura; it is hard to believe that these are male voices. The program ranges from Gregorian chant and liturgical music of the 16th and 17th century, through traditional and jazz-influenced folk songs and spirituals (some in deplorably bad arrangements), to works by contemporary composers. Chanticleer's mostly vibrato-less vocal style still reflects its roots in its original Renaissance repertoire, but the way the singers use their voices in the popular, jazzy songs makes one aware of the evolving kinship between the two traditions. Though primarily an a capella ensemble, Chanticleer is occasionally joined by various instrumental groups, from period instrument orchestras to a jazz trio, and Dawn Upshaw adds her radiant, smiling, unmistakably "real" soprano to a delightful, high-spirited performance of a Spanish Carol. This disc is a fine, varied sampling of Chanticleer's discography and should inspire listeners to search out all the complete albums. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

My idea of heaven.......2007-02-17

If you liked Norman Luboff's Song's of the Sea's "Shenandoah", the price of this CD is worth it alone. That's why I ordered the CD. I heard Chanticleer's version and immediately ordered it. The rest is just the icing on the cake.

Then there is the one Kiri Tekanawa (sp?) offering, which is the only female voice on the recording.

Wonderful, but not quite the best of I had hoped.......2006-07-18

Some great material truly shines on this album, but I wsih that the group had been a little less populist in their choice of repertoire. There is a little too many arrangements and folk-like material, with the exception of the wonderful "Dulaman", and I would like to have heard some more varied repertoire. That said this is an excellent starting point for this amazing group.

A treasury.......2005-11-06

As you can tell from the samples, the music here is amazing and covers a wide territory. It is less obvious that much of this is available on other CDs. I am confident, for example, that "We Shall Walk Through the Valley In Peace" is the same track that you will find on their phenomenal and highly recommended gospel collection, _Where the Sun Shall Never Go Down_, and I see a number of familiar-looking titles from other CDs. My advice is: if you're looking for a broad sample of the group's repertoire, then you can't go wrong here -- but if you've already got several Chanticleer albums, then you'll want to check your existing collection for potential duplications before buying this 'treasury.'

Chanticleer: A Portrait.......2005-10-26

This is a marvelous singing group of all males with a little addition of Dawn Upshaw on a couple of pieces. They are thourally amazing at what they can sing with Male Voices usually unaccompanied. Obviously they have good strong Contra-Tenors that can manage the high notes without any problems. I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys vocal music, unaccompanied and like Male Voices

Average customer rating:

Please don't encourage him.
No documentation? No surprise!
Not for the easily depressed
Tavener and Chanticleer: a heavenly combination...
Nourishes the Soul

Tavener: Lamentations & Praises
Chanticleer , and Tavener
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Matins for the Virgin of Guadeloupe
Colors of Love
Chanticleer: Magnificat (A Capella Works by Josquin, Palestrina, Titov, Victoria, and Others)
John Tavener: Innocence
Our American Journey

ASIN: B00005UMP5
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Tracks:

Golgotha: The Descent From The Cross
Stasis I
"Wherewithal stall a young man..."
Thrinos
Epitaphios Procession I: From Golgotha To The Anointing Stone
The Descent From The Cross II
Stasis II
"Let now your mercy..."
"Your hands have made me..."
Thrinos
Epitaphios Procession II: to the Tomb Entrance
The Descent from the Cross III
Stasis III
"Princes have persecuted me..."
"I awaited Lord Your salvation..."
"Look upon me and have mercy..."
Thrinos
Procession into Hades (into the Tomb)
Resurrection in Hades

Amazon.com

The composer calls this work "a liturgical drama," but there is nothing dramatic about it; it is more aptly described by the title of its three main sections, "Stasis." Set to texts from the Greek and Russian Orthodox Easter service sung in English interspersed with ancient Greek words, it is scored for male voices and an odd combination of strings, winds, and extra-large percussion instruments including a Byzantine monastery bell, a Tibetan temple bowl, a tam-tam, and a simantron (a wooden board struck with a hammer). The music, in Tavener's characteristic medieval, monastic, Byzantine style, is devout, contemplative, very slow, with endlessly sustained notes and chords, and based on structurally determined repetition. Anchored by bass or descant drones, the chorus moves in parallel chordal progressions, alternating with ornate, melismatic solos, and punctuated by regularly repeated crashes from the bell and bowl. Variety is created through changes of key, vocal and instrumental texture, and motivic material. Several sections culminate in climactic buildups of volume and intensity. Some of the music is very beautiful, but its repetitiousness and basically unchanging character make a sense of monotony unavoidable. Perhaps only listeners who share Tavener's own deep spirituality can fully enter into his musical world. The performance by Chanticleer is wonderful. The voices float with a transparent, pure, otherworldly sound--it seems unbelievable that the altos and sopranos, who go up to high F's and G's, are really male singers--and the instruments match them perfectly in tone and style. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Please don't encourage him........2003-12-11

pretentious, pri-ten'shus, a. Full of pretension; pretending to or falsely claiming talents, skills, or qualities. This guy's got it all, mysterious sounding names for his compositions AND mysteriouser sounding chants and resonances, but most mysterioustist is how anyone can even stand to listen to this claptrap. Maybe that's why this jerk has gotten so much press, people don't understand his mystical Eleusinian sensibility and are curious as to what he knows that the rest of us don't. Well, here's a secret I'll be glad to share. Often, people with below average talent or inspiration tend to try to veil their inadequacies in whatever way they can. Apparently, Tavener has found his vehicle. At any rate, don't believe the hype: I laughed more when I heard this than when I sampled the Macho Man's rap album.

No documentation? No surprise!.......2003-01-29

Just to respond to the comments about the lack of liner notes: When this work was recorded, the music was still wet on the page. Indeed, Tavener had approved several changes very late in the game, as you might expect. When you do a world-premiere recording of a brand new piece, you can't exactly round up the nearest musicologist and ask for a detailed essay about the music (as you might for, say, Josquin)!

Anyway, I found the piece quite moving, and the performance here is flawless.

Not for the easily depressed.......2002-02-21

A powerful piece of music, with the characteristically beautiful performance that Chanticleer is famous for. The subject is not a happy one, and the music conveys the sense of dread and anguish that was probably Tavener's intent. This music is emotionally evocative, but will surely darken and make more somber whatever mood you start listening with, so let the listener take heed! I appreciate the brilliance of the performance, but I can't really say I *like* the music. Recorded in techologically pristine fashion, as we have come to expect from Chanticleer.

Tavener and Chanticleer: a heavenly combination..........2002-02-14

John Tavener's Lamentations and Praises is almost indescribably perfect in its premiere recording by Chanticleer. As Chanticleer was the co-commissioner of this work, they have a great understanding of the music and the words. Their voices are grouped SATB (soprano, alto, tenor and bass/baritone, as is common in many liturgical choral pieces. The soprano voices of Matthew Alber, Christopher Fritzsche, and Ian Howell are simply amazing in their range and clarity. Not to take away from the other soloists in the lower ranges, but to hear male voices singing at such high octaves is nothing short of wondrous!

If you are new to Tavener, Lamentation and Praises is an excellent introduction to the "modern" period of his compositions that really started with Eternity's Sunrise, composed and performed in collaboration with the Academy of Ancient Music. Tavener has been composing from a very young age, and recording since the mid to late 1960s, when Tavener recorded The Whale on the Beatle's Apple label. It was an unqualified and riotous success. Tavener then and since has made frequent use of tape playback, unusual voicing combinations, Eastern and Byzantine vocal modalities, as well as a mix of contemporary and classical compositional forms to write simple and complex works for voice, chamber ensembles, and solo strings (most popularly his solo cello concerto, The Protecting Veil, is literally his most successful piece and has been recorded several times over by many cellists and orchestras.)

If you are familiar with Tavener's music of the past 15 years or so, then you will hear references in Lamentations and Praises to earlier works. For him a composition might undergo years of re-working, or he might borrow a motif or sound mode and bring it to a newer piece. For example, the melismatic vocal style heard here is found in his superbly dramatic sacred "cantata", We Shall See Him As He Is, recorded in a live performance at London's Proms circa 1989. That work is also divided into sections he called Ikons, each one a depiction of a significant event in the life of Christ. The melisma is also heard strongly in his dirge, Eis Thanaton, and in the stunning Innocence, recorded in collaboration with Martin Neary, Director of Music at Westminster Abbey. He also used tape playback on Tears of the Angels, as well as Eis Thanaton, among several others. The use of Asian/Eastern modes is also heard on last year's Total Eclipse, which also made us of melisma and Byzantine vocal modalities.

Tavener's use of the Ison or drone sound is found in many of his works as he uses it to represent the continuous or eternal/omnipresent existence of God. This is most evident in his work with the Tallis Scholars called Ikon of Light, where a continuous vocal line through the ENTIRE piece is used to represent God, who manifests his presence through the physical medium of light. In Lamentations you hear the Ison at different volumes and in different sections, not continuously, so it's not always apparent.

So many of these disparate elements are what make EXPERIENCING Tavener on disc so special, as you can return to those moments or Ikons that resonate most deeply within your psyche or your soul. For every person I truly believe Tavener's work speaks differently, but with great power to inspire all of us to greater and deeper contemplation.

Much comment has been made of Teldec (Warner Music) and Chanticleer not providing more information in the CD's booklet. While the liner notes are scant, they do give you some useful insight into how Lamentations is structured. If you want an in-depth knowledge of Tavener's compositional process, I'd very highly recommend two books: The Music of Silence: A Composer's Testament and Visions of Paradise. The first book is a series of discussions between Tavener and a music writer, the interviews having been conducted over several months. Visions of Paradise is a biography and offers a thorough and interesting survey of both the work and life of the composer, which are really one and the same for Tavener. Lastly, I found the photos in the Lamentations booklet to be both appropriate and beautiful, enhancing the overall packaging.

This CD is one of Tavener's greatest works!

Nourishes the Soul.......2002-02-10

I would characterize this as divinely inspired music, designed to nurish the soul, regardless of the religious/spiritual orientation of the listener.

Music Review: