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Gjeilo: Sunrise Mass / Jordan, Westminster Williamson Voices


Release Date: 06/07/2019 
Label:  Gia Choral Works   Catalog #: 1048  
Composer:  Ola Gjeilo,  Hildegard of Bingen,  Anonymous,  Maurice Duruflé,   ... 
Performer:  Camille Watson,  Kamala Silvey,  Lucy Hole,  Micaela Bottari,   ... 
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Number of Discs: 1 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

Sunrise Mass is a magical recording that includes compelling music by Ola Gjeilo along with several complementary selections by Durufle, Mendelssohn, and Mocnik. The title was chosen to hopefully represent the journey of each listener to hear new worlds ot colors in each of the selections. At the heart of this recording is Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass, a spiritual, extended work in four movements that will bring you on a metaphysical journey from the heavens to earth. This recording is expertly sung by the Westminster Williamson Voices and conducted by James Jordan. It is simply exquisite. Jordan writes: “This has been our experience living with this music and, for me, allowing this choir to resonate these sounds in the most honest way we could. Read more Gjeilo’s music allows us to connect to a vast wordless world that speaks directly to each of us in deeply personal and meaningful ways. His music was a gift to us, and hopefully will be a gift to you. All of the music on this recording connected itself to us and tethered each piece, one to the other, inside us. And for that reason, and all the reasons above, we are excited to share the magic we felt through sounding all of these incredible scores.”

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REVIEW:

Norwegian New Yorker Aja Gjeilo's music is thoroughly tonal. He seems to specialize in church music, with quotations in this mass from Duruflé and Mendelssohn. Texts by Hildegard von Bingen are rewritten and freely orchestrated. The others are by the composer. Harmony is clean and conservative, with occasional surprises in the voiceleading. For the most part, this is lovely and very beautiful. There is nothing here that could not be sung by well-schooled amateur choir singers. In fact, choral aficionados will surely enjoy this.

– American Record Guide (Allen Gimbel) Read less

Works on This Recording

1.
Sunrise Mass by Ola Gjeilo
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 2007; United States 
2.
Ave generosa by Hildegard of Bingen
Performer:  Camille Watson (Soprano), Kamala Silvey (Soprano), Lucy Hole (Soprano),
Micaela Bottari (Soprano), Olivia Dowden (Soprano), Kate Miksits (Soprano),
Danielle Verguldi (Soprano), Alexandra Meakem (Alto)
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Medieval 
Written: 12th Century; Germany 
3.
Ave Generosa by Ola Gjeilo
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Contemporary 
Written: United States 
4.
Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjeilo
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 1999; United States 
5.
Ubi Caritas II: Through Infinite Ages by Ola Gjeilo
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 2012; United States 
6.
Sacred Heart (Ubi Caritas III) by Ola Gjeilo
Performer:  Pam Fay (Viola), Valissa Willwerth (Violin), Blake Espy (Violin),
Glenn Fischbach (Cello)
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 2014; United States 
7.
A spotless rose, for chorus by Ola Gjeilo
Performer:  Lucy Hole (Soprano), Jennifer Halliday (Soprano), Alexandra Meakem (Alto)
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 2012; United States 
8.
Tantum ergo by Anonymous
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Medieval 
9.
Motets (4) on Gregorian themes, Op. 10: no 4, Tantum ergo by Maurice Duruflé
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1960; France 
10.
Anthems (6), Op. 79: no 1, Frohlocket, ihr Volker auf Erden by Felix Mendelssohn
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1843; Germany 
11.
Anthems (6), Op. 79: no 3, Herr Gott, du bist unsere Zuflucht by Felix Mendelssohn
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1843-1846; Germany 
12.
Acclamatio by Damijan Mocnik
Conductor:  James Jordan
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westminster Williamson Voices
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 1996; Slovenia 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Sunrise Surprise August 17, 2019 By Lisa Ragsdale (Minneapolis, MN) See All My Reviews "I have been listening to this work on Minnesota Public Radio's "Choral Stream" and am blown away! Definitely 5 Stars, this work is the kind of choral work that you can listen to any time and allow it to transport the listener to places one has never been. Highly Recommended!" Report Abuse
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