O sacrum convivium! Music for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi

CD – £15 DIGITAL DOWNLOAD – £10.99

	MP3 (320Mbps)
	ALAC (Full Studio Master)
	ALAC (CD Quality)
	FLAC (Full Studio Master)
	FLAC (CD Quality)

Please select the file format you wish to purchase

ADD TO BASKET

O sacrum convivium! Music for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi

(AF014)

ArtistsCharles Maxtone-Smith, Matthew Searles, The Choir of Buckfast Abbey

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi celebrates each year the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. On this album, the Choir of Buckfast Abbey presents a musical offering bearing witness to this great celebration through music rooted in the words and ancient chants of this feast. At the heart of this album is a Mass setting by Martin Baker, Missa O sacrum convivium!, newly commissioned for the Choir of Buckfast Abbey and here given its premier recording, which develops chant melodies into a passionate tour de force for choir and organ. This work is complemented by chants and hymns of the day for Mass and Vespers, as well as sumptuous choral settings by Guerrero, Palestrina and Laloux and a suite for solo organ by Anton Heiller.

★★★★★ “Devotional through and through, beautifully shaped and sung with profound sincerity, here is a taste of heaven and surely Buckfast Abbey Choir’s most impressive recording so far.” (Choir & Organ)

“Especially striking for me is the accompanied plainchant and hymns… They’ve beautifully captured the atmosphere of the service, the choir and the organ, and the acoustic of Buckfast Abbey.” (BBC Radio 3 Record Review)

“A first-rate recording by a first-rate choir.” (American Organist)

“The versatility of the choir is notable as they move effortlessly from one musical style to another. The vocal lines are clean with intonation and tuning being above approach. A most enjoyable disc and a worthy addition to the growing Ad Fontes catalogue.” (British Music Society)

“Baker’s choral writing is rewarding and the tenors clearly relish their more searing passages. The ending of the Sanctus is one of the most beautiful moments on the disc and the austerity of the Agnus Dei is also highly satisfying, with some delicious chords.” (Gramophone Magazine)

“This is a delicious mix of plainchant, polyphony, solo organ and a new Mass by Martin Baker for the liturgy of Corpus Christi. The disc comes beautifully packaged and full of interesting content. There is much to enjoy here, and if you’re looking for a recording for Corpus Christi then this could well be it.” (Organists’ Review)

“Searles’ 29 voice choir sings beautifully, the sound rich and full of impact. Organist Charles Maxtone-Smith draws some warm, mellow sonorities from the Abbey’s Ruffati organ… Documentation is excellent, with full texts and translations, the album snazzily designed and presented as a small hardback book. Recommended.” (The Arts Desk)

“Cards on the table from the word go: this CD is a winner... Highly recommended.” (Music & Liturgy: The Journal of the Society of Saint Gregory)

...

Track List

Anton Heiller

Ante Introitum (In festo Corporis Christi)