January 28, 2011

The Esoterics - Barber: Collected Choral Works

This recording was made in conjunction with The Esoterics’ centennial concert of the same name, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American composer Samuel Barber. This is the first recording by an American choral ensemble to feature all of Barber’s works for a cappella chorus. Barber is one of the most important figures in American composition, having twice won the Pulitzer Prize. Purchase your copy of this historic recording by one of the country’s premiere vocal ensembles for contemporary choral music! This recording, made in the lush acoustics of Seattle’s Holy Rosary Catholic Church, is the first recording to bring together God’s grandeur and Motetto on words from the book of Job, which Barber had intended to be performed as a single cycle. Also included in this recording are three choral works that are normally performed with instruments (Easter chorale, A stopwatch and an ordnance map, and Sure on this shining night). For these three pieces, the ensemble sings the instrumental parts (for brass, timpani and piano) as well as the choral parts. This recording, directed by The Esoterics’ Founding Director Eric Banks, is an excellent interpretation of Barber’s neo-romantic style and was engineered using binaural recording technology. 6009 CD 15.95

Posted by acapnews at January 28, 2011 1:44 PM