Adam Václav Michna: Missa; Cantiones;Requiem

Advantages: Refreshingly Different
Disadvantages: None

...Don't be put off by the title Missa Luba 'An African Mass' or think that it's 'too high-brow'! Missa Luba is a wonderful example of African rhythms and percussive instrumentation - drums and shaken gourds - with traditional African 'call and response' melodies together with additional harmonies. Based on the traditional Mass the work consists of just five tracks - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei - and is just over fifteen minutes long. The remainder of the recording consists of 10 Kenyan Folk Melodies. These too are as wonderful and refreshing as the Missa Luba . Ideal for the 'serious' listener, as background music or for those who wish to listen to something a little different. Go on. Give it a try; you will be glad you did. After all you have nothing to loose but much enjoyment to be gained. This is my first review... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beautiful Requiem
Disadvantages: Better live

...This review is of the requiem itself rather than the entire CD as it makes up most of the music on the disc. Of all the classical requiems out there Faure's is perhaps the most emotive. Its movements are sombre without being morose and solemn without being boring. Listeners may be familiar with extracts used in recent television adverts particulaly the Agnes Dei whose middle passage and modulation are perhaps the most fantastic in the whole work. Another great is the Libere Me where a solo male voice is a nice contrast to the soprano solo in the Pie Jesu. My only qualm with the piece is the In Sanctum Spiritum where the staccato organ part conjures up images of the magic roundabout?! Defintely one to listen to very loudly after a long day. For a very tranquil experience give it a try...!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Wonderful Christmas CD
Disadvantages: None

...This year, as we do every Christmas, we will bring out our copy of the CD A Medieval Christmas. We will listen to it, I, with a glass of single malt Scotch, my wife with a glass of Sherry and some minced pies and we will settle back and listen to A Medieval Christmas, as the Christmas lights twinkle and the cat and the cockatiel doze. The singing is provided by Pro Cantione Antiqua, which is made up of Charles Brett and Timothy Penrose (they are the countertenors) James Griffiths, Neil Jenkins and Ian Partridge (tenors.) Brian Etheridge and Michael George (basses). The musical accompaniment is provided by the Medieval Wind Ensemble, made up of Peter Davies (recorders, doucaine, bombard and bagpipes, Jonathon Morgan (recorders, doucaine, shawm and sackbut) and Mark Brown (tabor and timbrel. The conductor was Mark Brown. Although... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful