Chrysalid Requiem

Track Listings

1. Introit

2. Kyrie

3. Gradual and Tract

4. Sequence I

5. Sequence II

6. Sequence III

7. Offertory

8. Sanctus

9. Agnus Dei

10. Communion

11. Responsory

12. Antiphon

Chrysalid Requiem, Music, Toby Twining, Eric Brenner, Mark Johnson, Michael Steinberger, Choral, Choral Music, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Modern Creative

Average customer rating:

What a daring and inspired work!

We all know its amazing, but here's an interesting fact...

thank you

Chrysalid Requiem
Mark Johnson , and Michael Steinberger
Manufacturer: Cantaloupe
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000067DOM
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Customer Reviews:

What a daring and inspired work!.......2005-08-11

This remarkable work is a setting of the Latin requiem mass for an unaccompanied chorus. Although it is solidly rooted in classical traditions, it breaks new ground, particularly in the use of non-standard vocal effects and microtones. To say I enjoy this disc is an understatement - it was a revelation!

Of course, microtones are nothing new. Indeed, the equally tempered chromatic scale wasn't really technically achievable until the previous century. But now, equal temperament has completely dominated Western music. Only in the last decade or so has a small group of Western composers begun to re-incorporate alternative tunings into their work. You see, the strength of equal temperament is also its downfall: All major chords sound the same (i.e., have the same character) irrespective of the key. Actually it's worse than that - in order to achieve this uniformity, each major third has to be substantially out of tune (compared to the natural modes of vibration in a string or column of air).

Accordingly, for the past century, Western music has been characterized by a certain brittle quality or brightness. This is so prevalent, that we don't really notice it, and cannot conceive of any other kind of music. Now, put on Twining's disc, and (for instance) listen to the full chorus when it reaches "Re-qui-em ae-te-er-num do-o-o-na e-is do-mi-ne (etc.)." Heavenly...breathtaking...spine-tingling...you've never heard these chords before, because modern musical instruments (and voices) are simply not tuned that way.

And so it is with the entire piece. I never knew that such sounds were possible, such a range of effects, striking so deeply at a primal level. All the more astonishing that only human voices were used - specially trained, but without any electronic manipulation. (I swear they sound like chimes in one passage!) Now here is the truly remarkable thing: it works. It all comes together and makes sense as a coherent expression. Instead of sensation-seeking effects for their own sake, these sounds serve the composer's message.

As the title of the piece implies, Twining's vision of death is a departure from the traditional requiem mass as elegy. There is a glow of optimism, even celebration, and yet a haunting sense of mystery. As noted by an earlier reviewer, the piece is immediately accessible, but full of hidden riches that come to light over time.

The soloists are uniformly top notch. The recording quality is excellent, capturing the warmly resonant ambience.

We all know its amazing, but here's an interesting fact..........2004-12-25

This music is so amazingly different from the norm that the singers for this recording had to wear noise cancelling earphones as they sang for some tracks, because the strange tonal combinations would have screwed them up! It's that different...yet, once the ears adjust, one can listen to his rare music as if it was old relgious choral music. His system is different-but not in its bizarrity or it's LACK of structure. Unlike so much other "challenging" music, this set works with a whole new system to create the most inspiring and mind expaning music I've heard in years. This CD will make you smarter.

thank you.......2004-01-01

This piece is incredible. It is a triumph for mankind. There is no other way to describe it. If you are thinking of buying this recording, please, do yourself a favor: BUY THIS RECORDING.

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1. Introit
2. Kyrie
3. Gradual and Tract
4. Sequence I
5. Sequence II
6. Sequence III
7. Offertory
8. Sanctus
9. Agnus Dei
10. Communion
11. Responsory
12. Antiphon