The Whole Music Experience

Paul Hillier National Chamber Choir of Ireland Stewart French Tarik O’Regan Acallam na Senórach: An Irish Colloquy Harmonia Mundi Sung in Middle Irish and English, the medieval frame-tale of the meeting of Saint Patrick and associates of Finn mac Cumaill comes to life on Paul Hillier’s latest recording, Tarik O’Regan Acallam na Senórach: An Irish Colloquy .   And what a splendid recording this is, with soprano vocals that sail through the glass ceiling and blend seamlessly with a mixed choir’s polyphony.   Opening with bodhrán the choral work takes on a mysterious quality.   The drumbeats prepare listeners to enter the realm of enchantment and to take a journey to Ireland’s medieval past.   And the story portrayed on the recording represents the meeting of pagan and Christian cultures, and communication from spiritual realms. Besides the ethereal polyphonic vocals, we are treated to Stewart French’s classical guitar such as on Guitar ...

Cantus That Eternal Day Independent release I’m not a religious person, but I enjoy some choral music especially when it’s sung a cappella as it is on Cantus That Eternal Day. The Twin Cities (Minnesota) nine voice men’s choir has already been lauded with praise by Fanfare and for good reason. The men sing perfectly calibrated harmonies delivered with contagious enthusiasm—think African American gospel (listen to the driving Run On ),  and Shaker songs. Think Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring rendition of  Simple Gifts which appears also appears on this disk. Listening to this collection of songs ranging from African American spirituals, to Sacred Harp Hymns, and Shaker tunes, you can hear the love and research that went into this project. From American colonial composers to Goin’ Home by Antonìn Dvořàk and Bobby McFerrin’s The 23rd Psalm , Cantus pulls many colorful threads together into a musical quilt. The album can be viewed as a music history document, a co...