Rachel Stevens Music:

		List Price: $18.98		Label: Telarc Salesrank: 229151 Released: February 28, 2006
		Our Price: $5.99
		Used Price: $41.51
		Media: Audio CD

Copland: Motets; Duruflé: Gregorian Motets; Tavener: Song for Athene; Etc. [Hybrid SACD] Track Listing:
1. O sacrum convivium!, for voices, I/18
2. Song for Athene, for chorus
3. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: I. Kyrie
4. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: II. Gloria
5. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: III. Credo
6. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: IV. Sanctus-Benedictus. Sanctus
7. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: IV. Sanctus-Benedictus. Osanna I
8. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: IV. Sanctus-Benedictus. Benedictus
9. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: IV. Sanctus-Benedictus. Osanna II
10. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor: V. Agnus dei
11. Motets (4) on Gregorian Themes, for chorus, Op.10: Ubi caritas
12. Motets (4) on Gregorian Themes, for chorus, Op.10: Tota pulchra est
13. Motets (4) on Gregorian Themes, for chorus, Op.10: Tu es Petrus
14. Motets (4) on Gregorian Themes, for chorus, Op.10: Tantum ergo
15. Motets (4), for chorus: Help Us, O Lord
16. Motets (4), for chorus: Thou, O Jehovah, Abideth Forever
17. Motets (4), for chorus: Have Mercy on Us, O My Lord
18. Motets (4), for chorus: Sing Ye Praises to Our King
19. O sacrum convivium (also set as 'I call and cry to thee' and 'O sacred and holy banquet'), motet for 5 voices, P. 210

Copland: Motets; Duruflé: Gregorian Motets; Tavener: Song for Athene; Etc. [Hybrid SACD] Reviews:
Enjoyable and Rewarding
2009-07-08 - All of the music on this beautifully performed and recorded release is religious music, but music lovers and audiophiles should find this an enjoyable and rewarding release even if they are not devout believers. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus ranges in size from about 40 to 60 voices, depending on repertoire, and can sound big or small depending on the demands of the music.

I have long been a fan of Vaughan Williams's Mass in G Minor. Although Vaughan Williams professed agnosticism, much of his music expresses emotion and longing that sound as though they must have religious underpinnings. His Mass often gets paired with other English religious pieces, such as the Howells Requiem; it is interesting to have it included on a disc with several other pieces, and I particularly enjoy the way the producers framed to program by beginning and ending with a modern and historical setting of the same text, O sacrum convivium. All in all, this is a wonderful recording that I recommend quite highly.

Atlanta Sym Chorus still in excellent hands.
2008-07-30 - This stunning program led by Atlanta Symphony Chorus' new director, Norman Mackenzie verifies that the chorus remains in excellent hands with Robert Shaw's successor. The chamber chorus comprised of approximately 40 voices sings with the trademark diction, blend, accuracy and warm tone that were the hallmark of Shaw's choruses. This program of twentieth century works is quite moving and serious in tone; highly listenable in that they are all quite tonal, reflecting the unique styles of their various composers. The Copland Motets are perhaps the only works on the disc that suffer by comparison with the remainder of the program.

I have the SACD version of this disc which is warm, stunningly clear, reverberant but quite transparent. Having sung with a chamber chorus that recently performed the Durufle and Messiaen motets included on this compilation, it was delightful to hear them so beautifully recorded by this outstanding ensemble. I highly recommend it.