Bryars: Cadman Requiem, Adnan Songbook, etc. / Hilliard Ensemble, Fretwork

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Gavin Bryars's Cadman Requiem is a somber work, even allowing for its genre. Written for Bill Cadman, a longtime friend of Bryars who died in the 1988 Lockerbie airline bombing, the piece makes miles of thoughtful power out of wavering, long string tones that act as a backdrop for astounding vocals from the Hilliard Ensemble. The slowed physical motions emphasize the piece's gravity, and the strings are scripted just in line with the voices, favoring the low end with bruising effect. There are fearful, almost panic-rich moments, but each recedes into long tenor-range lines that stretch to the sonic horizon. Having written such similarly somber pieces as Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet and The Sinking of the Titanic, Bryars is no stranger to extended works; but here he juxtaposes his Requiem with eight love poems from Etel Adnan. Sung by soprano Valdine Anderson, these works get their force from the casual eroticism and passion of their language as much as from the vocal delivery. Their opulence is unmistakable and strangely in line with the CD's opener. The guitar-framed episodes of "Epilogue from Wonderlawn," which the composer scripted for choreographer Laurie Booth, close out this magnificent collection. What excellent proof it offers that Bryars, who's labeled "difficult" by many, can write for the broadest of audiences and still be meaningful. --Andrew Bartlett

Bryars: Cadman Requiem, Adnan Songbook, etc. / Hilliard Ensemble, Fretwork, Music, Gavin Bryars, Gordon Jones, William Hunt, Orlanda Bryars, Sophie Harris, Ziella Bryars, Roger Heaton, Gavin Bryars, Gavin Bryars, Gavin Bryars Ensemble, Hilliard Ensemble, James Woodrow, John Potter, Rogers Covey-Crump, Andrew Parker, Bill Hawkes, Fretwork, Chamber, Chamber Music, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Minimalism, Vocal, Vocal Music
Bryars: Cadman Requiem, Adnan Songbook, etc. / Hilliard Ensemble, Fretwork
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not the usual Bryars
  • a requiem worth hearing
  • Title
 Bryars: Cadman Requiem, Adnan Songbook, etc. / Hilliard Ensemble, Fretwork
Fretwork
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Bryars: The Sinking Of The Titanic / Barnett, Bryars Ensemble, et al
  2. Veljo Tormis: Litany to Thunder

ASIN: B00000HXJ0
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

  1. Cadman Requiem: Requiem
  2. Cadman Requiem: Caedmon Paraphrase (Bede)
  3. Cadman Requiem: Agnus Dei
  4. Cadman Requiem: Caedmon's ' Creation Hymn'
  5. Cadman Requiem: In Paradisum
  6. Adnan Songbook: Song I
  7. Adnan Songbook: Song II
  8. Adnan Songbook: Song III
  9. Adnan Songbook: Song IV
  10. Adnan Songbook: Song V
  11. Adnan Songbook: Song VI
  12. Adnan Songbook: Song VII
  13. Adnan Songbook: Song VIII
  14. Epilogue From Wonder Lawn

Amazon.com

Gavin Bryars's Cadman Requiem is a somber work, even allowing for its genre. Written for Bill Cadman, a longtime friend of Bryars who died in the 1988 Lockerbie airline bombing, the piece makes miles of thoughtful power out of wavering, long string tones that act as a backdrop for astounding vocals from the Hilliard Ensemble. The slowed physical motions emphasize the piece's gravity, and the strings are scripted just in line with the voices, favoring the low end with bruising effect. There are fearful, almost panic-rich moments, but each recedes into long tenor-range lines that stretch to the sonic horizon. Having written such similarly somber pieces as Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet and The Sinking of the Titanic, Bryars is no stranger to extended works; but here he juxtaposes his Requiem with eight love poems from Etel Adnan. Sung by soprano Valdine Anderson, these works get their force from the casual eroticism and passion of their language as much as from the vocal delivery. Their opulence is unmistakable and strangely in line with the CD's opener. The guitar-framed episodes of "Epilogue from Wonderlawn," which the composer scripted for choreographer Laurie Booth, close out this magnificent collection. What excellent proof it offers that Bryars, who's labeled "difficult" by many, can write for the broadest of audiences and still be meaningful. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Not the usual Bryars.......2000-09-16

While I enjoy Gavin Bryars, in general I have to be in the perfect mood to listen intently or he dissolves into noise. That is not true of any of the pieces on this disk. The title piece, Cadman Requiem is a magnificant piece of deep prolonged sounds creating a dark and reflective Requiem. This is music perfectly fitted to the words. The Hilliard Ensemble does a splendid job in fitting the voices to the deep strings.

The Adnan Songbook puts six of the Lebanese-American poet's poems to music. Bryars lets the words, the voice take the spotlight against a very quiet and melodic musical backdrop.

Epilogue From Wonderlawn is a varied piece, approaching the musical style that forces one to truly concentrate on Bryars' music.

If you've ever been curious regarding Bryars' work, this is an excellent CD to introduce his music to you. If you like his music, this will quickly move up high on your favorites list.

5 out of 5 stars a requiem worth hearing.......2000-07-13

Bryars' Cadman Requiem is a masterwork of soothing music. The Hilliard Ensemble and Fretwork deliver an outstanding performance. The composer's influences of plainchant and modality are evident in the music. What a delight to listen to!

5 out of 5 stars Title.......1999-12-24

'Cadman Requiem'must be one of the most beautifull pieces of music written in this century. If modern classical music ever made a must-have CD, this could be the one. 'Adnans songbook'is great to, though it loses in beauty compared to Cadman Requiem. Poor the 'musiclover' who misses out on this album...

Track Listings:

  1. Camerata Woodwind Quintet
  2. Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti in Concert
  3. Celtic Strings & Wings
  4. Christophe Rousset ~ Bach - Goldberg Variations
  5. Clearings in the Sky
  6. Couperin - Motets / Piau, Pelon, Fouchécourt, Corréas, Les talens lyriques, Rousset [Import]
  7. Devienne: Flute Concertos Nos. 2 & 7; Symphonie Concertante for Flute and Bassoon
  8. Dreaming Wide Awake
  9. East West Encounter
  10. Elgar: Violin Concerto in B Minor [Import]

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Sweet 'N' Ripe

Arias & Scenes

Ace in the Hole

T-Bone Blues: The Essential Recordings

Techno Prisoners

3LW [Enhanced]

A Swingin' Affair! [Original recording remastered]

Ariel / 5 Orchestral Pieces for Piano

All through the Year

Advanced Swing

1965

Above the Volcano of Flowers

Anything [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]

Years Gone By 1

Out of the Gate