Notes and Editorial Reviews
TAVENER
Ex Maria virgine. Birthday Sleep. O Do Not Move. A Nativity. Marienhymne. O Thou Gentle Light. Angels
•
Timothy Brown, dir; Clare College Cambridge Ch
•
NAXOS 8.572168 (63:46
Text and Translation)
Two of the selections are first recordings:
Ex Maria virgine
, the major work at 38 minutes, and
Marienhymne
. The other works are not widely available, for
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style="font-style:italic">Birthday Sleep
was recorded by Stephen Layton (28:4),
A Nativity
by Matthew Greenall (not issued over here), and
Angels
by David Hill (23: 2). I cannot find the first recordings of the other two pieces.
Marienhymne
is sung in German, while
O Thou Gentle Light
is sung in Greek (the ancient hymn
Phos hiláron
, which Dom Lucien David also set as a neo-Gregorian chant). The earliest work on the program,
Angels
, dates from 1985.
The major work is a setting of nine age-old texts in Latin or English separated by a refrain, “Ex Maria virgine,” the first movement being repeated at the end. One movement has a Greek refrain, the original of “hail, Mary,” but the first word is pronounced “kay-ray” rather than “ky-ruh.” The composer has a devoted following, so these accomplished performances will delight them.
FANFARE: J. F. Weber
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Works on This Recording
1.
Ex Maria Virgine by John Tavener
Performer:
Simon Jacobs (Organ),
Stefan Berkieta (Baritone),
James McVinnie (Organ)
Conductor:
Timothy Brown
Written: 2005; England
2.
Birthday Sleep by John Tavener
Performer:
Simon Jacobs (Organ),
Stefan Berkieta (Baritone),
James McVinnie (Organ)
Conductor:
Timothy Brown
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1999; England
3.
O, do not move by John Tavener
Performer:
James McVinnie (Organ),
Simon Jacobs (Organ),
Stefan Berkieta (Baritone)
Conductor:
Timothy Brown
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1990; England
4.
A Nativity by John Tavener
Performer:
Stefan Berkieta (Baritone),
Simon Jacobs (Organ),
James McVinnie (Organ)
Conductor:
Timothy Brown
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1985; England
5.
Marienhymne by John Tavener
Performer:
Simon Jacobs (Organ),
Stefan Berkieta (Baritone),
James McVinnie (Organ)
Conductor:
Timothy Brown
Written: 2005; England
6.
O thou gentle light by John Tavener
Performer:
James McVinnie (Organ),
Stefan Berkieta (Baritone),
Simon Jacobs (Organ)
Conductor:
Timothy Brown
Period: 20th Century
Written: 2000; England
7.
Angels by John Tavener
Performer:
Simon Jacobs (Organ),
Stefan Berkieta (Baritone),
James McVinnie (Organ)
Conductor:
Timothy Brown
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1985; England
Sound Samples
Ex Maria Virgine: Verbum caro
Ex Maria Virgine: Nowell! Nowell! Out of Your sleep
Ex Maria Virgine: Remember O Thou Man
Ex Maria Virgine: Sweet was the Song
Ex Maria Virgine: Ave Rex Angelorum
Ex Maria Virgine: There is no Rose
Ex Maria Virgine: Ding! Dong! Merrily on high
Ex Maria Virgine: Rocking
Ex Maria Virgine: Unto us is born a Son
Ex Maria Virgine: Verbum caro
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