From the haunting beauty of Lôbo’s Missa pro defunctis, through the radiant polyphony of Victoria and Byrd, to the profound emotional weight of Harris, Stanford and Parry, this is music that speaks directly to the heart.
Duarte Lôbo was the most widely known of Portuguese composers, his music appearing not only all over Portugal, but in Spain, the Spanish Netherlands, and South America. His Requiem unfolds in rich, sonorous polyphony, its sombre intensity balanced by the luminous purity of Victoria’s O quam gloriosum and Versa est in luctum .Byrd’s music brings an almost weightless clarity, while Harris, Stanford and Parry reveal the uniquely English tradition of choral music at its most expressive and moving. There is darkness here, but also extraordinary beauty: music for mourning, remembrance and hope.
PROGRAMME
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Lôbo
Introitus from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Lôbo
Kyrie from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Victoria
O quam gloriosum
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Lôbo
Gradual from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Victoria
Versa est in luctum
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Lôbo
Offertorium from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Lôbo
Sanctus from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Lôbo
Agnus Dei from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Lôbo
Sanctus from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Lôbo
Communio from Missa pro defunctis a8
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Byrd
Gaudeamus omnes (Gradualia for All Saints)
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Harris
Bring us, O Lord God
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Byrd
Beati mundo corde (Gradualia for All Saints)
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Lôbo
Versa est in luctum
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Byrd
Timete Dominum (Gradualia for All Saints)
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Stanford
Beati quorum via
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Byrd
Iustorum animae (Gradualia for All Saints)
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Parry
Lord, let me know mine end from The Songs of Farewell
PERFORMERS
- The Sixteen
- Harry Christophers conductor