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– £10.99Lumen Christi: A sequence of music for the Easter Vigil
The Choir of Westminster Cathedral is the crowning jewel of Catholic church music and has been at the forefront of English sacred music since its foundation in 1901. This new disc draws us into the mystery of the Paschal Vigil, the very apex of the Church’s liturgical year, transporting us on a journey from darkness into light through a sequence of plainsong and polyphony. It is the first album under the choir’s current director, Simon Johnson, picking up where Vexilla Regis (AF002) left off, and immerses the listener in the Cathedral’s own unique treasury of liturgical music, including compositions crafted by its former musicians, as well as repertoire at the heart of the choir’s work, represented here in polyphony by Victoria, Monteverdi and L’Héritier’s glorious Surrexit pastor bonus.
“This is its first CD under Simon Johnson, and it demonstrates the choir on superb form.” (Catholic Herald)
“The ecstatic joy at Christ’s resurrection is musically embodied here in a perfect manner.” (MusicWeb International)
“From the sombre opening Gregorian chant to Langlais’s dazzling Incantation pour un jour saint for organ at the close, this darkness-to-light sequence for Easter Vigil is packed with atmosphere.” (BBC Music Magazine)
“Like a fine-tuned engine, the choir is superb throughout, from the polychrome splendour of Andrew Reid’s Exodus Canticle or Martin Baker’s arrangement of O filii et filae to the refinement of Palestrina and Victoria. Peter Stevens provides magnificent support on the organ and a thrilling account of Langlais’s Incantation pour un jour saint.” (Cathedral Music Magazine)
“Johnson and his well-drilled forces bring a genuine sense of live occasion to proceedings, with pleasingly bright, forward projected singing from the boys… Excellent liner notes guide anyone unfamiliar with the Paschal Vigil.” (Choir & Organ)
“From start to finish, through Gregorian chant, renaissance motets, contemporary settings of Latin parts of the Mass, and a finale by Langlais, the panoply of the Lumen Christi is set out sumptuously. This demonstrates yet again that Westminster Cathedral’s music is second to none… A wholly welcome enterprise, splendidly accomplished.” (Organists’ Review)
Track List
1
Gregorian Chant
Lumen Christi
0:37
2
Gregorian Chant
Exsultet
7:24
3
Orlando de Lassus
Iubilate Deo
1:44
4
Andrew Reid
Exodus Canticle
2:57
5
Tomás Luis de Victoria
Laudate Dominum
3:41
6
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Sicut cervus
3:42
7
Claudio Monteverdi
Gloria (Missa Ave Domine Iesu Christe)
5:28
8
Gregorian Chant
Solemn Alleluia: Confitemini Domino
3:30
9
Gregorian Chant
Litany of the Saints
3:27
10
Matthew Martin
Vidi aquam
3:58
11
Jean L’Héritier
Surrexit pastor bonus
5:20
12
Gregorian Chant
Sanctus (Mass I)
1:33
13
Gregorian Chant
Agnus Dei (Mass I)
1:45
14
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Angelus Domini descendit
8:33
15
Gregorian Chant
Communio: Alleluia (Psalm 117)
6:27
16
Gregorian Chant
Pontifical Blessing & Dismissal
1:28
17
Martin Baker
O filii et filiæ
4:32
18
Jean Langlais
Incantation pour un jour saint
5:30