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Various: Brother Sun, Sister Moon
Composer: Various
Performers:
· Gerald Finley
· The Cambridge Singers
· John Rutter
Recorded in the Great Hall of University College, London, in 1988
Released: (October 25, 1990)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: American Gramophone
ASIN: B0000005MF
Also Available in: Audio Cassette
On this CD:
1. Haec dies, motet for 3 voices (STT). Composed by William Byrd
2. Victimae paschali laudes, for Easter. Gregorian Chant
3. Dum transisset sabbatum (ii), motet for 5 voices. Composed by John Taverner
4. Missa Ut re mi fa sol la, for 6 voices Sanctus. Composed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
5. Exsultate Deo, motet for 5 voices (from Motets Book V). Composed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
6. Surrexit Christus Hodie [Click to hear sample]. Composed by Samuel Scheidt, with Gerald Finley
7. Before the Ending of the Day (from the Office of Compline). Gregorian Chant
8. In pace in idipsum for four voices. Composed by John Sheppard
9. Into Thy Hands, O Lord (from the Office of Compline). Gregorian Chant
10. Motets (4) on Gregorian Themes, for chorus, Op.10 Ubi Caritas. Composed by Maurice Durufle
11. Keep Me as the Apple of an Eye and Nunc Dimittis (From the Office of Compline). Gregorian Chant
12. O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day. Composed by Robert White
13. Libera nos. Composed by John Sheppard
Helpful notes by Kurt Messick (Amazon reviewer)
Recorded in the Great Hall of University College School, London, the Cambridge Singers under the direction of John Rutter produced a true masterpiece in 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon' in 1988. The title derives from a famous prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, and is inspired by liturgical music from (or derivative of) the Middle Ages and Renaissance polyphony and Gregorian chant. The music is meditative, uplifting, and elegant in simplicity and stunning vocal quality.
Brother Sun
The first half of the disc is largely composed of pieces from the liturgical Morning Prayer cycle, concentrating on texts from Easter, the most important of Christian days. From the Alleluia to the Acclamations and Surrexit Christus Hodie (Christ is risen today), the flow from Gregorian Chant to compositions by Byrd, Taverner and Palestrina (giants of this type of music) in increasing energy and glory, as befits both a Morning service (time to wake up!) as well as a celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Perhaps of particular note here is the cantoring of bass Gerald Finley in the Easter Acclamations.
Sister Moon
The second half of the disc concentrates on music of the evening; in particular, the Compline service, a service of unwinding and sombre meditation with which monastic communities conclude their days of work and worship. Many churches have reincorporated Compline into a regular cycle of services; some have even done so as a result of exposure to this recording. The music here is softer and less energetic than that of Morning prayer. This includes music from Whyte and Sheppard (also masters of the Medieval-to-Renaissance liturgical polyphony) as well as a brilliant motet by twentieth century composer Duruflé for the Ubi Caritas.
Liner Notes
The notes for this recording include the titles and words, in both Latin and English, for each of the pieces recorded here. It has an excerpt from a prayer by St. Francis, and a basic introduction to the music relating it historically and liturgically. One thing conspicuously missing is any biographical information about John Rutter, or any descriptive information about the Cambridge Singers apart from the basic listing of singers.
John Rutter
Rutter was born in London and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. This was where his career as a composer, arranger and conductor began. His early work was with groups at King's College Chapel at Cambridge as well as the Bath Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked for the BBC providing music for educational series such as 'The Archaeology of the Bible Lands', until in 1979 he began forming the Cambridge Singers, and has continued a remarkable career of performance and recording as their director ever since.
The Cambridge Singers
The Cambridge Singers are a mixed choir of voices, many of whom were members of choir of Rutter's college, Clare College, Cambridge. While they specialise in English and Latin liturgical pieces, they have a wide range of recordings that span from modern compositions (including a remarkable requiem by Rutter) to English folk songs of the Middle Ages. For this particular recording, the choir consisted of eleven sopranos, six altos, six tenors, and six basses.