Masses from St. Thomas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Vastly different in style and concept, Zoltan Kodály's romantically garbed Missa Brevis (for choir and organ) and Ralph Vaughan Williams's medieval-shrouded Mass in G Minor (for unaccompanied double choir and four soloists) lately seem to have gone missing from the production lists of record companies. When a choir of this caliber manages to record them, we have to notice. The results are mostly satisfactory, and often exceptional, especially the uniform tone and the pleasingly focused treble sound. In the Vaughan Williams, this choir experiences the same problems every other choir has with this music, i.e., keeping textural balance, maintaining intonation, and sustaining the longer melodic phrases. Aside from a few minor lapses, the performance is assured and well-balanced, with some very powerful expressive moments. The Kyrie and Agnus Dei seem ever so slightly rushed, which keeps things together, but deprives us of the significantly more effective meditative mood a slower tempo would allow. The Kodály is lush and full-bodied, enhanced by fine organ work by choirmaster Gerre Hancock. --David Vernier

Tracks:

Missa Brevis: Introitus - Maestoso
Missa Brevis: Kyrie - Amdante
Missa Brevis: Gloria - Allegro
Missa Brevis: Credo - Allegro moderato
Missa Brevis: Sanctus - Larghetto
Missa Brevis: Benedictus - Tranquillo
Missa Brevis: Agnus Dei - Adagio
Missa Brevis: Ite, missa est - Maestoso
Mass In G Minor: Kyrie - Slow
Mass In G Minor: Gloria in excelsis - Moderato
Mass In G Minor: Credo - Con moto
Mass In G Minor: Sanctus, Osanna I - Lento, Moderato maestoso
Mass In G Minor: Benedictus, Osanna II - Moderato tranquillo, Moderato maestoso
Mass In G Minor: Agnus Dei - Moderato

Amazon.com

Vastly different in style and concept, Zoltan Kodály's romantically garbed Missa Brevis (for choir and organ) and Ralph Vaughan Williams's medieval-shrouded Mass in G Minor (for unaccompanied double choir and four soloists) lately seem to have gone missing from the production lists of record companies. When a choir of this caliber manages to record them, we have to notice. The results are mostly satisfactory, and often exceptional, especially the uniform tone and the pleasingly focused treble sound. In the Vaughan Williams, this choir experiences the same problems every other choir has with this music, i.e., keeping textural balance, maintaining intonation, and sustaining the longer melodic phrases. Aside from a few minor lapses, the performance is assured and well-balanced, with some very powerful expressive moments. The Kyrie and Agnus Dei seem ever so slightly rushed, which keeps things together, but deprives us of the significantly more effective meditative mood a slower tempo would allow. The Kodály is lush and full-bodied, enhanced by fine organ work by choirmaster Gerre Hancock. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Fine recording from an excellent choir.......2001-06-27

The St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys is considered to be the most outstanding choral ensemble in the Anglican musical tradition in the United States today, and this recording shows us why. The sound of the choir is focused and clear as they deliver these two challenging masses. Several soloists appear throughout the recording (including boy trebles) and they range from good to excellent. I had to listen a few times to begin to actually "feel" the music itself (I tend to prefer earlier music so these modern pieces were not entirely my style), but after a while the music began to grow on me, and I have especially come to enjoy the Williams mass, which is at times hauntingly beautiful. The CD liner notes include excellent detailed information about the composers, the choir, choir school, and the Choirmaster/Organist, Gerre Hancock. If you are not already familiar with this choir, you are in for a treat. I would also highly recommend their "Most Sacred Banquet" and "O God, My Heart Is Ready" recordings, which present some fine selections of traditional Anglican music. You can get both from Amazon.com, or directly from St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, NY.

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