Morten Lauridsen

Review: Each of the five connected movements in this choral cycle contains references to 'Light,' assembled from various sacred Latin texts. I composed Lux Aeterna in response to my mother's final illness and found great personal comfort and solace in setting to music these timeless and wondrous words about Light, a universal symbol of illumination at all levels - spiritual, artistic and intellectual. The work opens and closes with the beginning and ending of the Requiem Mass, with the central three movements drawn respectively from the Te Deum, O Nata Lux and Veni, Sancte Spiritus. The opening Introitus introduces several themes that recur later in the work and includes an extended canon on et lux perpetua. In Te, Domine, Speravi contains, among other musical elements, the cantus firmus Herzliebster Jesu (from the Nuremburg Songbook, 1677) and a lengthy inverted canon on fiat misericordia. O Nata Lux and Veni, Sancte Spiritus are paired songs, the former an a cappella motet at the center of the work and the latter a spirited, jubilant canticle. A quiet setting of the Agnus Dei precedes the final Lux Aeterna, which reprises the opening section of the Introitus and concludes with a joyful celebratory Alleluia. --Morten Lauridsen

4309b | Songbook $7.95 | SATB

Review: The duets include: Dirait-on - Prayer - Contre qui, rose - Girl - Ya eres mía - Sure on this shining night

10837b | Songbook $19.95 | Duet Duet Songbooks

Review: This collection of Lauridensen's aural artisanship contains hits such as "O Nata Lux," a serene a cappella motet celebrating the Redeemer, "Ubi Caritas Et Amor," a motet composed "in celebration and gratitude for the glorious and enduring service to God," as well as a setting of "Ave Maria" specially composed as a seventieth birthday gift to Maestro Salamunovich.

Songlist: O Nata Lux, Ave Maria, Ubi Caritas et Amor, Soneto de la Noche

9231b | Sheet Music $8.95 | SATB Modern Choral Arrangements

Review: "Les Chansons des Roses" is a collection of compositions based on the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. Says Lauridsend of his selection: "(Rilke') poems on roses struck me as expecially charming, filled with gorgeous lyricism, deftly crafted and elegant in their imagery. There exquisite poems are primarily light, joyous and playful, and the musical settings are designed to enhance these characteristics and capture their delicate beauty and sensuousness."

Songlist: Dirait-on, Contre Qui Rose, De Ton Reve Trop Plein, La Rose Complete, En Une Seule Fleur

9238b | Sheet Music $10.95 | SATB Modern Choral Arrangements

Review: THhe Six Fire Songs have been featured at major choral festivals around the world. Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "stunningly crafted", the Madrigalli are unified by romantic references to fire in each of the poems. Characteristic Italian Rennaissance "madrigalisms" such as word painting, modality, bold harmonic shifts, intricate counterpoint and augenmusik occur throughout the cycle.

Songlist: Amor, Io Sento L'Alma, Ov'e Lass, Il Bel Viso?, Quando son piu Lontan, Io Pango, Se Per Favervi, oime, Luci serene e Chiare

7335b | Sheet Music $9.95 | SATB Modern Choral Arrangements

Review: Considered to be one of America's foremost contemporary composers Morten Lauridsen is a master of writing choral music that is harmonically lush, contrapuntally interesting, melodically memorable, and gratifying to sing. This disc brings together four of his most popular works, which include three cycles -- Les Chansons des Roses, Lux Aeterna, Madrigali -- as well as his setting of O Magnum Mysterium. The Chamber Choir of Europe, conducted by Nicol Matt, sings with warmth and a secure tone. Matt conducts with sensitivity, giving the music plenty of room to breathe, with tempos generally on the relaxed side. The choir is particularly effective in the moving and densely chromatic a cappella O Magnum Mysterium. Lux Aeterna is heard in its version with organ, played by Jorg Halubek, rather than with instrumental accompaniment. The composer provides sensitive accompaniment on the piano in "Dirait-on," the final (and only accompanied) song in Les Chansons des Roses. The sound is warm and intimate. While the performances fall short of being sublime, this CD would be a good introduction to the variety of Lauridsen's work for anyone interested in accessible and gratifying new choral music.

Songlist: Les Chansons Des Roses, Lux Aeterna, Madrigali, O Magnum Mysterium

8513c | 1 CD $17.95 German Choral Music

Review: Choral Cross-Ties, a mixed 24-singer chorus directed by Bruce Browne who founded the group in 1985, bring us 3 choral cycles by composer Morten Lauridsen, "Mid-Winter Songs," on poems by Robert Graves; "Madrigali: Six Fire-Songs," on Italian Renaissance poems; and "Les Chansons Des Roses," on poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. Reading the beautiful poetry which inspired Lauridsen in the extensive liner notes, the Graves in English, the Madrigali in Italian and the Chansons in French (all with translations), adds to our appreciation and feeling for the music. Lightly accompanied on piano, "The Complete Choral Cycles" is an extensive, demanding work made to look easy by a wonderfully versatile chorus.

Songlist: Lament for Pasiphae, Like Snow, She Tells Her Love While Half Asleep, Mid-Winter Waking, Intercession in Late October, Ov'e, Lass', Il Bel Viso, Quando Son Piu Lontan, Amor, Io Sento L'alma, Io Piango, Luci Serene E Chiare, Se Per Havervi, Oime, En Une Seule Fleur, Contre Qui, Rose, De Ton Reve Trop Plein, La Rose Complete, Dirait-On

6739c | 1 CD $15.98

Review: Morten Lauridsen is America's preeminent composer of choral music. Characterized by long, arching and highly expressive lines, his works are enjoyed by performers and audiences worldwide. O nata lux, perhaps Lauridsen's most popular work, is a serene evocation of heavenly light, while the searingly intense and technically demanding Madrigali inhabit a more feverish and earthy realm. The refined Les Chansons des Roses employ a design reminiscent of the formal gardens, filled with roses, found in the grounds of the great French chateaux. The unforgettable final movement is the now-famous Dirait-on. The Mid-Winter Songs for chorus and piano are a stunning example of compositional virtuosity. O magnum mysterium, for a cappella chorus, is a setting of a Christmas text that has inspired composers from Victoria to Poulenc.

Songlist: O nata lux, Ov'e, lass', il bel viso, Quando son piu lontan, Amor, lo sento l'alma, Io piango, Luci serene e chiare, Se per havervi, oime, En une seul fleur, Contre qui, rose, De ton reve trop plein, La rose complete/ Dirait-on, Lament for Pasiphae, Like Snow, She Tells Her Love While Half Asleep, Mid-Winter Waking, Intercession in late October, O magnum mysterium

4223c | 1 CD $9.95 Canadian Choral Recordings

Review: Pillars of Light is a collection of pieces by Rene Clausen, Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre. Lauridsen's "Ave Maria" is absolutely gorgeous with its indulgent harmonies. "Veni" was written by Clausen for Kantorei and is premiered here. Whitacre's "i thank you god for most this amazing day" is a very tranquil setting of the e.e. cummings poem. All of these pieces are great examples of the beauty that can come from modern choral compositions. The warm rich often dissonant sounds envelop the listener.

Songlist: Les Chansons des Roses:, En Une Seule Dleur, Contri Qui, Rose, Do To Reve Trop Plein, La Rose Complete, Dirait-On, Three Whitman Settings (from "Leaves of Grass"):, A Noiseless Patient Spider, Quicksand Years, The Last Invocation, Lux Aeterna: III. O Nata Lux, Veni, Ave Maria, O Vos Omnes, In Pace, I Thank You God For Most This Amazing Day

6967c | 1 CD $15.98

Review: Since their founding in 2004, The Singers has premiered and commissioned nearly forty new works, debuting pieces by such composers as Stephen Paulus, Eleanor Daly and Craig Carnahan, as well as three composers-in-residence, Abbie Betinis, Jocelyn Hagen and Joshua Shank. Founding Artistic Director and Conductor Matthew Culloton has an impressive resume, including being a member, Music Advisor, Assistant Conductor and Bass Section Leader of the Dale Warland Singers. "Mid-Winter Songs" is a 21-song collection of the works of Morten Lauridsen, including the 5-song "Les Chansons des Roses," "Three Psalms," "Four Madrigals on Renaissance Texts," five "Mid-Winter Songs" and four "Nocturnes," some are piano accompanied. We have always loved Lauridsen, and enjoyed every cut of the album, as well as reading the extensive liner notes, which contain all the lyrics and some very interesting notes by Morten about his music.

Songlist: En Une Seule Fleur- Les Chansons Des Roses, Contre Qui, Rose- Les Chansons Des Roses, De Ton Reve Trop Plein- Les Chansons Des Roses, La Rose Complete- Les Chansons Des Roses, Dirait-on- Les Chansons Des Roses, O Come Let Us Sing Unto The Lord - Three Psalms, I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes - Three Psalms, Psalm 29 - Three Psalms, To One That Desired To Know My Mistris - Four Madrigals On Renaissance Texts, Slow, Slow, Fresh Fount- Four Madrigals On Renaissance Texts, To My Mistris, I Burning In Love- Four Madrigals On Renaissance Texts, Mediocritie In Love Rejected - Four Madrigals On Renaissance Texts, Lament For Pasiphae - Mid-Winter Songs, Like Snow - Mid-Winter Songs, She Tells Her Love While Half Asleep - Mid-Winter Songs, Mid-Winter Waking - Mid-Winter Songs, Intercession In Late October - Mid-Winter Songs, Sa Nuit d'Ete - Nocturnes, Soneto de la Noche - Nocturnes, Sure On This Shining Night, Epilogue: Voici le soir

6045c | 1 CD $15.95

Review: Morten Lauridsen has become one of America's most widely performed composers. His "O Magnum Mysterium" has been performed thousands of times since the 1994 premiere by Maestro Paul Salamunovich and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. With "Dirait-on" these two works are the all time best selling choral octavos distributed by Theodore Presser, in business since 1783! Northwest Journey features world premiere recordings of art songs, choral works and chamber music featuring superb musicians and vocalists. This musical offering spans the range of Morten's work. "Where Have the Actors Gone" gives one the sense of an allegorical ending to a relationship which might be found in a stage setting of musical theatre. From his beloved choral set, "The Songs of the Roses," comes a new arrangement of "Dirait-on" written for vocal duet. There is the unaccompanied motet, "Ubi Caritas et Amour." "A Winter Come" deftly takes the imagery of Howard Moss's verse and presents it in a marvelous variety of moods using amazing piano composition to accompany the soprano voice. Garcia Lorca's poetry is presented in the musical setting of the "Cuatro Canciones," each song based on a wider interval than the previous. And then we arrive at the finale, a new arrangement of the beautiful "O Magnum Mysterium" which presents the power of the original choral version carefully preserved in this premiere recording for solo voice. Wonderful!

Songlist: Where Have the Actors Gone, Dirait-On, Ubi Caritas et Amor, A Winter Come, Variaions, Madrigali, Cuatro Canciones, O Magnum Mysterium

6598c | 1 CD $15.98 Modern Choral Arrangements

Review: Stephen Layton directs his 21-mixed-voice Polyphony, which he founded in 1986 at King's College, Cambridge, in some of Morten Lauridsen's most beloved works, accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia. The 5 movements of title tune are first, and is as lovely (accompanied, of course) as we have ever heard it. "Madrigali: Six Fire Songs on Italian Renaissance Poems" follow, exuberant, spirited a cappella pieces. The recording concludes with Lauridsen's beautiful a cappella "Ave Maria," haunting, chantlike "Ubi caritas et amor" and the classic "O magnum mysterium." Lauridsen is pictured in the extensive liner notes giving his personal direction to the making of this very fine CD. The best of Lauridsen from talented Polyphony, directed by Layton, and with a wonderful Pre-Raphaelite painting of an angel on the cover-who could ask for more?

Songlist: Lux Aeterna, Madrigali: Six "Fire Songs", Ave Maria, Ubi Caritas et Amor, O Magnum Mysterium

7786c | 1 CD $16.98 English Choral CDs

Review: As their recording of Eric Whitacre had a chart-topping run on both sides of the Atlantic, Stephen Layton and Polyphony returned to the studio and put down a second disc devoted to the choral music of Whitacre's compatriot Morten Lauridsen. The popular cycles Mid-Winter Songs and Les chansons des roses (the final number of which, "Dirait-on," caused something of a publishing sensation on its first appearance) are joined by four premiere recordings: two early Psalm settings, and two new works written during the preparations for this recording. Performances from Layton and musicians are every bit as polished as we have come to expect. Polyphony is joined by the Britten Sinfonia for the Mid-Winter Songs, Andrew Lucas for the organ-accompanied Psalm and the composer himself on finger cymbals for Ave, dulcissima Maria. This new disc is certainly a worthy successor to the same forces' GRAMMY nominated Lux aeterna.

Songlist: Mid-Winter Songs, Les Chansons des Roses, I Will Lift up Mine Eyes, O Come, Let us Sing unto the Lord, Ave, Dulcissima Maria

8549c | 1 CD $18.95 English Choral CDs

Review: Composer and 2007 National Medal of Arts recipient Morten Lauridsen plays piano on this CD and proclaims the album a "superb recording of my choral music and art songs . . . all brilliantly performed by Voce and the Voce Chamber Artists."

Songlist: Nocturnes: Sa Nuit d'ƒte, Nocturnes: Soneto de la Noche, Nocturnes: Sure On This Shining Nigh, Nocturnes: Epilogue: Voici le soir, Cuatro Canciones: Noche, Cuatro Canciones: Despedida, Madrigali: Six 'Firesongs', When Frost Moves Fast, A Child Lay Down, And What of Love, Chanson ƒloignee, Be Still, My Soul, Be Still, Lux Aeterna: Agnus Dei, Canticle - O Vos Omnes, O Magnum Mysterium, Les Chansons des Roses: Dirait-on, Les Chansons des Roses: Contre Qui, Rose

5893c | 1 CD $15.95