The timeless power of contemporary choral music
Tom Service immerses himself in the resonant sound world of 21st-century choral music and discovers how this music evokes both immediacy and transcendence.
The vocal music of contemporary composers like Morton Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeilo and Caroline Shaw, is hugely popular with choirs, congregations and audiences. How do they achieve their brand of mystery and magic? Tom Service immerses himself in the resonant sound world of 21st-century choral music and discovers how it works. With guest, Kerry Andrew, who makes music for communities as well as choirs.
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Music Played
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Ola Gjeilo
Northern lights (Pulchra es, amica mea) for chorus
Performer: Charles Bruffy. Performer: Phoenix Chorale.- CHANDOS.
- CHAN 5100.
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Kerry Andrew
No place like for chorus
Conductor: Rafael Payare. Performer: ±«Óătv Singers. Performer: Ten Pieces Children's Choir. -
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Armonico Consort
O virtus Sapientie - antiphon
- Signum.
- SIGCD-235.
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James MacMillan
O Radiant Dawn for chorus [Strathclyde motets]
Performer: Apollo5.- VCM RECORDS.
- VCM123.
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Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Salve regina for 4,8,12 voices [H.xxvi.211]
Conductor: Harry Christophers. Performer: The Sixteen.- CORO.
- COR-16091.
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Morten Lauridsen
Ave Maria for chorus
Conductor: Stephen Layton. Performer: Polyphony.- HYPERION.
- CDA 67449.
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Anton Bruckner
Virga Jesse floruit - gradual for chorus
Conductor: Nigel Short. Performer: Tenebrae.- SIGNUM.
- SIGCD 430.
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Eric Whitacre
Lux aurumque for chorus
Conductor: Stephen Layton. Performer: Polyphony.- Hyperion.
- CDA 67543.
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Anton Bruckner
Locus iste - gradual for chorus
Conductor: Harry Christophers. Performer: The Sixteen.- DECCA.
- 476 4592.
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Michael Harrison
Michael Harrison: Just Constellations II. The Romantic Constellation: Autumn
Performer: Roomful of Teeth.- NEW AMSTERDAM.
- NWAM134.
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Morten Lauridsen
O Magnum Mysterium for chorus
Performer: Suzi Digby. Performer: ORA Singers.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 905305DI.
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Arnold Schoenberg
Trio Op.45 for strings
Performer: Clemens Hagen. Performer: Gidon Kremer. Performer: Veronika Hagen.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 447 112-2.
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Meredith Monk
The Games - a science-fiction opera for voices and ensemble
Performer: Andrea Goodman. Performer: Ching Gonzalez. Performer: Meredith Monk. Performer: Naaz Hosseini. Performer: Nurit Tilles. Performer: Robert Een. Performer: Wayne Hankin.- ECM NEW SERIES.
- 8317822.
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Caroline Shaw
Partita for 8 voices
Performer: Roomful of Teeth.- New Amsterdam.
- NWAM050.
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Cecilia McDowall
I know that my redeemer liveth - anthem for chorus
Performer: Owen Rees. Performer: Queen's College Oxford Choir.- SIGNUM.
- SIGCD 475.
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Eric Whitacre
Sing Gently
Performer: Virtual Choir 6. Performer: Sam Glicklich. Performer: Eric Whitacre.- UNQUIET.
- SINGASONE.
Broadcasts
- Sun 17 Oct 2021 17:00±«Óătv Radio 3
- Fri 22 Oct 2021 16:30±«Óătv Radio 3
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Podcast
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The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service
