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Lighten Our Darkness: Music for the Close of Day is the first disc seen in a long, long time from British label Collegium Records and its sole talents, John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. This one is a radical departure from just about everything the choir has done for Collegium in the past, particularly as it does not include a single John Rutter composition, original or arranged. Rather, the focus is on the office of Compline, which in the Benedictine order is the last prayer sung before bedtime. This tradition was handed down from the Rule of St. Benedict in the sixth century; however, many orders do not regard it as legit, and observe Vespers as the last service of the day. Nonetheless, the practice of observing Compline took hold in England, where it is an integral part of the English "Sarum" service and has been for centuries.
This was recorded in England's Ely Cathedral, which was erected in the eleventh century under the dictate of William the Conqueror and remains one of only a few Gothic era cathedrals still standing in Britain. Although the building was made for Catholic services, the Anglican Rite has been the norm at Ely since the sixteenth century. The music collected here is drawn from a variety of material used for Compline, from rare sixteenth century English Catholic pieces to music for Spanish Catholic, German Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox services, the last represented by Rachmaninov's famous setting of Ave Maria. The Compline service is meant to be short, but the disc is not -- several pieces are presented in a position relative to where just one might normally appear. The sound of the Ely Cathedral is a little generous, but the choral parts are still well distinguishable. The soprano section of Rutter's choir is especially good -- you would swear that these were boys, and it is surprising to learn that they are all adult women. The pieces are all very beautifully done, particularly the works of Sheppard, Victoria, and Byrd, not to mention Rachmaninov.
Lighten Our Darkness: Music for the Close of Day contains a second disc containing a complete Compline service in plainchant. This is a VERY complete service, as it includes the spoken portions, such as the Lesson and responses. Collegium does not provide the source for the chant, but it probably is the revised 1929 Anglican service as published in The Book of Common Prayer, as it is alluded to in the notes. Oddly, this short disc, which reflects the true length of an average Compline service, is rather more successful at inducing a peaceful and pleasant mood ideal for chilling out before bedtime than the main disc.
© TiVo
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In Pace (John Sheppard)
Anonymous, Lyricist - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - John Sheppard, Composer
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Libera Nos, Salva Nos (John Sheppard)
Anonymous, Lyricist - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - John Sheppard, Composer
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Justorum Animae (Orlande de Lassus)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Bible, Lyricist - Orlande De Lassus, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Pater noster (Jacobus Handl)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Bible, Lyricist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - Jacobus Handl, Composer
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
O Lord, the Maker of All Thing (William Mundy)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - Henry VIII, Lyricist - William Mundy, Composer
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Visita, quaesumus Domine (William Byrd)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - William BYRD, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Abendlied, Op. 69 No. 3 (Josef Rheinberger)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - Josef Gabriel Rheinberger, Composer
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
O Christ who art the light and day (William Byrd)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - William BYRD, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
O Gladsome Light (Louis Bourgeois)
Louis Bourgeois, Composer - Anonymous, Lyricist - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Seymour Bridges, Lyricist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Te lucis ante terminum (Thomas Tallis)
Anonymous, Lyricist - Thomas Tallis, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Alma Redemptoris mater (Tomás Luis de Victoria)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Tomás Luis de Victoria, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - Mass text, Lyricist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Ave regina caelorum (Tomás Luis de Victoria)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Tomás Luis de Victoria, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Regina caeli laetare (Tomás Luis de Victoria)
Anonymous, Lyricist - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Tomás Luis de Victoria, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Salve Regina (Tomás Luis de Victoria)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Tomás Luis de Victoria, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Ave Maria (Francisco Guerrero)
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Bible, Lyricist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - Francisco Guerrero, Composer
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
All-Night Vigil, Op. 37 "Vespers" (Serge Rachmaninoff)
Sergei Rachmaninoff, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Bible, Lyricist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
In manus tuas (William Byrd)
Anonymous, Lyricist - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - William BYRD, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - John Sheppard, Composer
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
DISC 2
Opening Sentences and Responses (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Simon Wall, Artist, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - John Harte, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Psalm 91 (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Bible, Lyricist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Lesson (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - John Harte, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Respond (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Simon Wall, Artist, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Hymn (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Keep me as the apple of an eye - Nunc dimittis (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Simon Wall, Artist, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
The Apostles' Creed - Lord's Prayer (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Simon Wall, Artist, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Versicles and Responses (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Simon Wall, Artist, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Confession and Absolution (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - John Harte, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Responses and Collects (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Simon Wall, Artist, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
We will lay us down in peace (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - John Rutter, Conductor, MainArtist - Simon Wall, Artist, MainArtist - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Closing Responses and Blessing (Anonyme)
Anonymous, Composer - Cambridge Singers, Choir, MainArtist - John Harte, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
Album review
Lighten Our Darkness: Music for the Close of Day is the first disc seen in a long, long time from British label Collegium Records and its sole talents, John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. This one is a radical departure from just about everything the choir has done for Collegium in the past, particularly as it does not include a single John Rutter composition, original or arranged. Rather, the focus is on the office of Compline, which in the Benedictine order is the last prayer sung before bedtime. This tradition was handed down from the Rule of St. Benedict in the sixth century; however, many orders do not regard it as legit, and observe Vespers as the last service of the day. Nonetheless, the practice of observing Compline took hold in England, where it is an integral part of the English "Sarum" service and has been for centuries.
This was recorded in England's Ely Cathedral, which was erected in the eleventh century under the dictate of William the Conqueror and remains one of only a few Gothic era cathedrals still standing in Britain. Although the building was made for Catholic services, the Anglican Rite has been the norm at Ely since the sixteenth century. The music collected here is drawn from a variety of material used for Compline, from rare sixteenth century English Catholic pieces to music for Spanish Catholic, German Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox services, the last represented by Rachmaninov's famous setting of Ave Maria. The Compline service is meant to be short, but the disc is not -- several pieces are presented in a position relative to where just one might normally appear. The sound of the Ely Cathedral is a little generous, but the choral parts are still well distinguishable. The soprano section of Rutter's choir is especially good -- you would swear that these were boys, and it is surprising to learn that they are all adult women. The pieces are all very beautifully done, particularly the works of Sheppard, Victoria, and Byrd, not to mention Rachmaninov.
Lighten Our Darkness: Music for the Close of Day contains a second disc containing a complete Compline service in plainchant. This is a VERY complete service, as it includes the spoken portions, such as the Lesson and responses. Collegium does not provide the source for the chant, but it probably is the revised 1929 Anglican service as published in The Book of Common Prayer, as it is alluded to in the notes. Oddly, this short disc, which reflects the true length of an average Compline service, is rather more successful at inducing a peaceful and pleasant mood ideal for chilling out before bedtime than the main disc.
© TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 30 track(s)
- Total length: 01:39:52
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Cambridge Singers John Harte Simon Wall John Rutter
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Collegium
- Genre: Classical
(C) 2006 Collegium (P) 2006 Collegium
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