I Will Lift My Voice

About the Artist
Born in Bronx, New York to Caribbean parents, Lynette remembers music as one of the biggest parts of her life. Raised in the church, she was inspired by the sounds of James Cleveland and Shirley Caesar but could not escape her cultural roots and vividly recalls the deep soulful reggae music that permeated the community. At an early age, family members realized her vocal ability and often had her perform for friends at parties.

Lynette began her solo career at the age of 12 with The Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic Inc., in Long Beach California after her family’s relocation. Throughout her high school years she was an active member of her church choir as well as Solid Rock Community Choir, with whom she toured the local circuit extensively.

In 1993, the young vocalist took her music to another level when she went on tour with reggae icons, The Wailing Souls. This tour afforded her the privilege of working with music legends such as Carlos Santana and Bob Dylan. The group also opened for acts such as 10.000 Maniacs while on the road. Lynette continued to travel internationally with Marky Mark and Prince Ital Joe on their Life in the Streets tour.

Lynette has been involved in a wide range of freelance vocal work. She was featured in the theme song for NBC’s Smart Guy, and sang lead vocals in "One Love" for Universal Pictures’, "Fear", starring Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon. "Have a Good Time" from Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion is another of her credits. One of the young singers’ most notable accomplishments was her work on "Hakuna Matata" sung by Jimmy Cliff for Walt Disney’s, "The Lion King". Bound by Honor is another Disney project that Lynette took part in.

The scope of work the artist has been exposed to broadens to include rap artists such as Mr. Grimm and Def Jef as well as RCA’s female pop group, Wild Orchid.

When asked about the work Lynette was most proud of, she didn’t hesitate to mention the reggae music legend, Bob Marley’s album, "Soul Almighty" that she was featured on, but proclaimed sincerely that "…Only what you do for Christ will last".

Lynette strongly believes in her desire to create music that appeals to multi-cultural people such as herself that want to hear Zion’s praises sang with a world-beat rhythm and a soulful melody.

Product Description
An annointed fusion of Reggae, Neo-Soul, R&B and just plain ol' Gospel music.

I Will Lift My Voice,Lynette White,Independent,An annointed fusion of Reggae, R&B, Neo-Soul and just plain ol' gospel music.

Average customer rating: Beautiful melody but lacks variety

Being Julia Various Artists Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Being Julia The Queen Ladies in Lavender De-Lovely Memoirs of a Geisha ASIN: B00065U0NG Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

1. Curtain Up
2. Real World - The Mills Brothers
3. Lift
4. Bei Mir Bist du Sch
5. Farewell My Love
6. Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries
7. Never Seen Them Shine Like That Before
8. Birthday Presents
9. It Will Only End in Tears
10. They Didn't Believe Me
11. Charades
12. I Saw the Light On
13. Am I Late
14. Not That Sort of Girl
15. Take a Break
16. Yes, Yes - Alison Jiear
17. Avice Gets the Part
18. Reunion - The Andrews Sisters
19. Play for the Other Side
20. Mad About the Boy
21. Jimmy's Magic
22. Avice Takes a Bow
23. For Old Times' Sake
24. Laird O'Drumblair
25. Stage Is Set
26. Curtain Call
27. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
28. Quite Alone

Amazon.com

Based on Somerset Maugham's middling novel Theater, Annette Bening stars as the title character, an aging star of the London stage whose life and the melodramas she performs have come to mirror each other. Composer Mychael Danna sets those conflicts to a score that emphasizes theatrical surfaces and rigid role-playing, utilizing a finely honed classical pastiche approach with parallels to his previous period-evoking work on Vanity Fair. His cues here are rooted in the light romantic chamber music of the 19th century, though they frequently bristle with a more contemporary energy and aplomb. Offering counterpoint to Danna's dignified, oft-precious classical confections and mining the story's more sensual human dimensions are pop chestnuts from the era (The Andrews Sisters' saucy "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" and Mills Brothers' jaunty "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries"), as well as fine contemporary takes of "They Didn't Believe Me" and Noel Coward's "Mad About the Boy" by Denzel Sinclair and Alison Jicar's elegant read of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful melody but lacks variety.......2005-04-11

Being Julia OST has a beautiful main melody which occurs over and over again throughout the tracks. I especially like "Curtain Up" and "Quite Alone". However, Being Julia OST doesn't have other strong melody to show along side with the main melody which seems a little too simple for a complete album. The movie is great too. Annette Bening's performance is outstanding.

Average customer rating:

Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set) Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Trio Sonatas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Flute | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Oboe | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Recorder | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Passions | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Brilliant Classics | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Haydn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set) Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Schubert: The Masterworks [Box Set] Dvorák: The Masterworks [Box Set] ASIN: B00062FLI8 Release Date: 2004-11-30

Average customer rating:

Bortnyansky: Sacred Concertos, Vol. 4 Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bortnyansky: Sacred Concertos, Vol. 5 Bortnyansky: Sacred Concertos, Vol. 3 Bortnyansky: Sacred Concertos for Double Choir, Vol. 6 Bortnyansky: Sacred Concertos, Vol.2 Bortnyansky: Sacred Concertos Vol. 1 ASIN: B00005J71E Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

1. Sacred Con No.24: I. I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills -
2. Sacred Con No.24: II. He Will Not Suffer Thy Foot To Be Moved -
3. Sacred Con No.24: III. The Lord Shall Preserve Thy Going Out And Thy Coming In
4. Sacred Con No.25: I. We, The Unworthy, Shall Not Cease -
5. Sacred Con No.25: II. We Shall Not Renounce You -
6. Sacred Con No.25: III. For You Are The Eternal Saviour Of Us
7. Sacred Con No.26: I. Lord God Of Israel, There Is No God Like Thee -
8. Sacred Con No.26: II. Lord God Of Israel! That Thine Eyes May Be Open -
9. Sacred Con No.26: III. ...And Forgive Thy People That Have Sinned Against Thee -
10. Sacred Con No.26: IV. ...That This House, Which I Have Builded
11. Sacred Con No.27: I. I Cried To The Lord With My Voice -
12. Sacred Con No.27: II. He Sent From Above, He Took Me -
13. Sacred Con No.27: III. According To The Cleanliness Of My Hands -
14. Sacred Con No.27: IV. ...And I Did Not Put Away His Statutes From Me
15. Sacred Con No.28: I. Blessed Is The Man That Feareth The Lord -
16. Sacred Con No.28: II. His Seed Shall Be Mighty Upon The Earth -
17. Sacred Con No.28: III. The Lord Hath Sworn In Truth Unto David -
18. Sacred Con No.28: IV. His Enemies Will I Clothe With Shame
19. Sacred Con No.29: I. I Will Praise The Name Of God With A Song -
20. Sacred Con No.29: II. ...And Will Magnify Him With Thanksgiving -
21. Sacred Con No.29: III. For His Merciful Kindness Is Great Toward Us -
22. Sacred Con No.29: IV. ...And The Truth Of The Lord Endureth For Ever

Average customer rating:

The Joy of God - Great Hymns Across the Ages William P. Rowlands , Gordon Slater , John Stainer , Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church , Ronald S. Jordan , Katherine Hill , Christopher Edwards , and Thomas Campbell Manufacturer: Marquis Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Vaughan Williams, Ralph | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vaughan Williams, Ralph | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hymns Triumphant 1 & 2 ASIN: B000003WHH Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

1. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Psalm 117: Plainsong, Tone I:1
2. Great Hymns Across The Ages: When Morning Gilds The Skies
3. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Jesu, The Very Thought Of Thee
4. Great Hymns Across The Ages: O Jesus, I Have Promised
5. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Fairest Lord Jesus
6. Rheinhardt Manuscripts: Worship The Lord
7. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
8. Book Of Common Prayer: Psalm 121
9. Greek Liturgy Of St. James: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
10. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Let Us Break Bread
11. Great Hymns Across The Ages: And Can It Be
12. Great Hymns Across The Ages: When All Thy Mercies, O My God
13. Psalterium Chorale', Constance: Creator Of The Earth And Skies
14. Great Hymns Across The Ages: I Need Thee Every Hour
15. Geistliche Seelenfreud: My God, My Father, Make Me Strong
16. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
17. Great Hymns Across The Ages: In The Cross Of Christ I Glory
18. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Low In The Grave He Lay
19. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Crown Him With Many Crowns
20. Great Hymns Across The Ages: This Is My Father's World
21. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Lead, Kindly Light
22. Great Hymns Across The Ages: I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say
23. Great Hymns Across The Ages: God, That Madest Earth And Heaven
24. Te Lucis, Mode VIII: Before The Ending Of The Day

Average customer rating: Brilliant Recordings A- for effort What can you say?

Psalms of David Complete Choir of St Paul's Cathedral , and Scott Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Psalms of David from Kings Choir of Kings College, Cambridge, Vol. 1 Psalms For The Soul Treasures of English Church Music The Oxford Guide to The Book of Common Prayer: A Worldwide Survey Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral ASIN: B00006GO6J Release Date: 2002-10-08

Amazon.com

This complete 12-disc survey of The Psalms of David from St. Paul's Cathedral is both a remarkable historical record of Anglican chant at its finest and an astonishing musical experience. Contained here are all 150 psalms in their traditional English garb from the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, with revised or entirely new musical settings as published in The New St. Paul's Cathedral Psalter, edited by the choir's musical director John Scott, itself a revision of the 1875 Cathedral Psalter. As such, these recordings represent the very backbone of the Anglican liturgy, but even a casual listener will be in no doubt that they also offer music that is both contemplative and richly varied when removed from its liturgical context.

The art of "pointing"--or setting--psalm texts has been essayed by many English composers, from William Croft through the Wesleys and William Boyce in earlier times to the great flowering in the late 19th century under Stainer and Barnby, with further contributions from Parry, Stanford, Elgar, Howells, and a host of choirmasters and organists, including Sir David Willcocks and John Scott himself. All are represented here. Recorded throughout in the vast acoustic of their cathedral, the St. Paul's choristers enunciate the words precisely, backed by inventive though unobtrusive organ accompaniment. Taken individually, it's possible to isolate moments when the choir seem to drag their feet or fail to give due weight to the words (Psalm 125, "They that put their trust in the Lord," seems far too subdued, for example), and the massive Psalm 119 is awkwardly split across discs 10 and 11, but overall this set is nothing less than a document of invaluable cultural and musical significance. --Mark Walker

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant Recordings.......2007-06-11

In our view the changes in pointing, and excellent selection of chants, give deeper meanings to the Psalms than those achieved in the "standard?" Parish Psalter.

We found great Spirituality and a wonderful sense of Worship whilst listening to this set. This is often sacrificed for brilliance of musical performance in other recordings.

Unfortunately the "St.Paul's Psalter" is not available (June 2007) but we are told that a new print run may happen within 12 months. This would be a most valuable companion to the recordings when and if it becomes available.

A- for effort.......2006-02-23

This grand undertaking deserves high praise, and I'm struck, listening to chant after chant, how much Anglican chant as it used to be until the changes of the 70s was one of the great Victorian contributions to English life and art. For anyone who wants to hear almost the entire repertoire of Anglican chant deployed in singing the whole book of Psalms, this is an unrivalled source. It is wonderful, too, to hear the Coverdale translation: you realize what the churches have lost by abandoning the proper & regular singing of the Psalms. So one is immensely grateful to Hyperion for putting out this recording. It's not perfect, though.

The rhythmic pacing, though a little slow for my taste, is steady and sensitive, the diction clear, and the organ accompaniment superb (Providing an expressive accompaniment to a choir singing in 4-part free rhythm, and improvising descants to the melody at the same time, isn't easy). And of course there's the cavernous acoustic of St. Paul's, very impressive in the more thunderous psalms. Unfortunately, though, the "forward" style favored for the St. Paul's boys produces a sound that's unpleasantly chesty in the lower registers and reedy in the higher ones. The poorly integrated choral sound caused by this kind of voice-production can be downright unpleasant for anyone used to, or trained in, the classic English choral style. In fact, one has to wonder why this choir was chosen for such a huge project: even allowing for the near-universal decline in standards of vocal training for boys in England, better sounds than this can still be heard.

What can you say?.......2003-01-03

I almost hate to criticize this terrific thing. After all, where else can you get all 150 Psalms in a single collection sung by one of the world's great choirs?

How much do I like it? I bought it *twice*. I originally bought all the CDs separately, before they came out with a single boxed set. They were stolen from my car (and, God willing, maybe they converted some poor thief to Anglican Cathedral Music and got him into church). After they were stolen, I immediately bought them again.

One of the great pleasures of life is listening to the Morning and Evening Psalms while driving to and from work, and making listening a regular feature of Morning and Evening Prayer.

So what's the criticism? The sound is a bit muddy, so the words can be rather difficult to understand without reading along (which is a real problem when driving), and personally, I prefer the Psalter from the 1979 BCP instead of the old one, from the Great Bible. But that's unreasonable. They ARE a British choir after all. Those are the only criticisms.

Anyhow, if you have a taste for choral cathedral music, this is genuinely indispensible. St. Paul's has given the world a great blessing.

Average customer rating: heartfelt, well written music

Out of the Depths Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Mendelssohn-Hensel | Mendelssohn-Hensel, Fanny | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Kevin Oldham: Piano and Vocal Music Memento Bittersweet ASIN: B000003LKX Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 1 For Organ, Op. 10: I. Introduction
2. Symphony No. 1 For Organ, Op. 10: II. Scherzo
3. Symphony No. 1 For Organ, Op. 10: III. Hymn
4. Symphony No. 1 For Organ, Op. 10: IV. Toccata
5. Psalm 121: I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills
6. Psalm 150: Hallelujah! Praise The Lord!
7. Psalm 130: Out Of The Depths Have I Cried To Thee
8. Be Still My Soul
9. The Boulding Chorales: Can I, Imprisoned
10. The Boulding Chorales: Small Flowers
11. The Boulding Chorales: Are There No Armies
12. The Boulding Chorales: My Lord, Thou Art In Every Breath I Take
13. Do I Know Why?

Customer Reviews:

heartfelt, well written music.......2003-05-12

This CD is worth getting for the sincere, emotional writing which is often very beautiful. I especially like the choral works, but the organ symphony has many powerful moments as well. A fine tribute to a composer who was tragically snuffed out before his time!

Average customer rating: Adequate recording of English classics

I Will Lift up Mine Eyes Manufacturer: Collegium ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Howells, Herbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Magnificats | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000031HT Release Date: 1993-09-13

Tracks:

1. Canticle Settings: Magnificat In G
2. Canticle Settings: Magnificat
3. Canticle Settings: Magnificat In B flat
4. Canticle Settings: Nunc Dimittis In B Flat
5. Anthems: O For A Closer Walk
6. Anthems: Like As The Hart
7. Anthems: The Fear Of The Lord
8. Anthems: I Heard A Voice From Heaven
9. Requiem: Salvator mundi
10. Requiem: Psalm 23
11. Requiem: Requiem aeternam
12. Requiem: Psalm 121
13. Requiem: Requiem Aeternam
14. Requiem: I Heard A Voice From Heaven
15. Sacred Part-Songs: When Mary Thro' The Garden Went
16. Sacred Part-Songs: Long, Long Ago
17. Hymn Settings: Te Deum in C
18. Hymn Settings: All My Hope On God Is Founded

Customer Reviews:

Adequate recording of English classics.......2000-08-02

This is a solid, if uninspired, rendering of some lovely English choral music. The actual selection of pieces is very nice. I would not have started the CD with the Stanford Magnificent in G. Although Caroline Ashton is a fine soprano, her solo on this work leaves much to be desired. It seems as if she is trying to achieve a pure English treble sound where the warmer sound of a female soprano is called for. After all, this is Mary's song!

All in all, I would still purchase the CD again. The Howells Requiem is nicely done, as is When Mary Thro' The Garden Went. Not a bad introduction to some fine English composers.

Average customer rating: Spiritually Uplifting -- No Matter What the Musical Style; Peter the Great's Artistic Triumph Brought to Light in Music Beautiful! Beautiful! Russian Orthodox Singing? Not!... The musical splendour of St Petersburg Exquisite Singing - Interesting Music

The Powers of Heaven: Orthodox Music of the 17th & 18th Centuries Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Galuppi | Galuppi, Baldassare | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Baltic Voices 1 / Kreek Sandstrom / Rautavaara / Part / Vasks Baltic Voices 2 Rachmaninov: All-Night Vigil Russian Divine Liturgy Baltic Voices 3 ASIN: B00009XBJC Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

1. Let My Prayer Arise
2. Now The Powers Of Heaven
3. The Cherubic Hymn
4. O Most Holy Maiden Mary
5. Glory/Only-Begotten Son
6. In The Flesh Thou Didst Fall Asleep
7. I Lift Up My Eyes To The Mountains
8. Praise The Name Of The Lord
9. With My Voice I Cried Out To The Lord
10. By The Rivers Of Babylon
11. Lord, Make Me To Know My End

Customer Reviews:

Spiritually Uplifting -- No Matter What the Musical Style; Peter the Great's Artistic Triumph Brought to Light in Music.......2007-07-12

I bought this CD with a foreknowledge of the excellence not only of the performing ensemble and its director, but also of the repertoire of sacred Orthodox choral music via Rachmaninov's Vespers and Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (which came long after the works represented on this disc, but are faithful, overall, to the homophonic and harmonic quality and style of traditional Russian church music). I was surprised, as many other reviewers, to find such polyphony in the works herein, since I was under the impression that the Church forbade such musical devices. However, it seems that with the fall of the Tsar (or, more correctly, his decline, since the Vespers are from 1915 and the Tsar did not abdicate, nor the government fall, till 1917) the Church became more in control of itself and could place such restrictions on composers like Rachmaninov, but in the days of Peter the Great, when some of these works were composed and the style of the rest was developed, the Tsar controlled art and religion and if he wanted a Western style in his country's sacred music, then he could have it. Taken in this light, the "profane" style of some of these works is not shocking and is instead rather delightful; we see the proof of Peter's Westernisation of Russia in his capital, St. Petersburg, and in the art and architecture that flourished under him, but to hear it (and performed so excellently, too!) is a delightful little history lesson.

And aside from the historical implications, which the attached booklet illumines carefully with regard to each composer (it also contains the texts in Slavonic (in Cyrillic lettering, no less), English, French, and German), the whole disc is spiritually enlightening. To say that the polyphony of Sarti, Galuppi, or even Titov is nothing more than profanity is to say that Bach can do nothing to spiritually enlighten either; or to say that such a style is contrary to the prayerful nature of the Orthodox Church is to say that Bach's Magnificat or B minor Mass nixes his contribution to Lutheranism. The polyphony on this disc is indeed plentiful, but fugal counterpoint is reserved for the Alleluia at the conclusion of Sarti's "Now the Powers of Heaven" and the text "O Passover of incorruption, the salvation of the world!" concluding Galuppi's "In the Flesh Thou Didst Fall Asleep." It seems that only the Italians, after all, were interested in such "intellectual" church music--the native Russians hold their own as regards the spiritual style of their music. All of the polyphony, regardless of national origin, is intelligent and beautiful, and ranks with the best of Handel. Additionally, the last part of the disc contains some tracks by Bortniansky and Vedel that exemplify the genre of the "choral concerto"--not precisely equivalent to, but most resembling, the Western concerto grosso. It is another fascinating glimpse into a little known style with which, thanks to this disc, we can become acquainted.

I will not attempt to contend, however, with the point that the more traditional music here is perhaps most uplifting of all, if we must treat the different styles represented as if in contest. Bortniansky's "Let My Prayer Arise" is one of my favourite tracks, and the anonymous hymn to the Virgin Mary is a beautiful setting featuring the help of Vladimir Miller, a Russian basso profondo who brings the basses down to low D's, B-flats, and (if I'm not mistaken) G's, and who will not be unfamiliar to those acquainted with this group's recording of Rachmaninov's Vespers. To close, I will note the excellence of the choir and conductor--the sopranos are never full of vibrato, the basses are strong on low and high notes alike, and the tenors and altos have lovely tone that enriches the harmonies; the soloists are well-chosen and perform beautifully; and overall the group's sense of direction is excellent and firm, thanks largely in part to their regional proximity to the birthplace of these pieces, and also to Paul Hillier's remarkable direction, which brings a new freshness to the performance of Western polyphony and Eastern devotional choruses alike, and conjoins them most marvellously in accordance with the will of the composers and of the Tsar.

Beautiful! Beautiful!.......2007-01-26

The Powers of Heaven is just that, a slice of heaven. The voices are so beautiful and rich, I can just imagine that the angels themselves are singing! I have been searching for the Cherubic Hymn sung in the style of our litergy at Annunciation Orthodox Church in Houston. This is recorded so touchingly, and to my delight, I now have new songs from this album to add to my lists of favorites. The Powers of Heaven is powerful indeed!

Russian Orthodox Singing? Not!..........2005-10-31

Beautiful choral music devoid of true Russian soul. Westernized to a degree of being unrecognizable. It comes from the "western" school of Rusian choral art and has nothing in common with the prayerful and deeply spiritual dimension of the Orthodox faith.

The musical splendour of St Petersburg.......2005-06-22

St Petersburg is famous for the magnificance of its architecture and this CD explore that splendour in music terms. Peter the Great drove Russia into the modern world with his modernisation drive, and without this Russia may have remained in the middle ages and certainly no match against the onslaught of tyrants such as Napoleon and Hitler.

With his modernisation drive Peter the Great brought in Western composers, mainly from Italy where the latest musical fashions were being wrought at the time. Teachers of composition would likely have used examples such as Palestrina, Lassus, Gabrielli and Josquin as examples. The teachers must have been highly conservative for Vasily Titov writes 12-part counterpoint late in the 1600's when this sort of multi-part polychoral writing was going right out fashion - clearly his Italian teachers had little time for the more avant garde trends set by the likes of Monteverdi, fadish madrigalian trends being thus noticeably absent. The results are an extraordinary mixture of Russian Orthodox stylistic tendencies with the compositional principles of the Seconda Prattica, where despite the importation of Western techniques, the very Russian compositional character comes through strongly. Titov is arguably a good a composer as Russia has ever produced.

With later composers such as Bortniansky, there seems to be a greater awareness of the latest Western trends, perhaps even those of the up-and-coming Viennese group of composers such as Haydn, although Italian composers such as Durante were still highly dominant amongst conservative circles at the time. There is certainly a hint of the gallant style entering into the writing.

This is all very rewarding music - except for those who are want to walk through the magnificant architecture of St Petersburg - such as the Hermitage, and the Petershof, bemoaning the fact that Russia didn't remain in the Middle Ages. Some of the comments seen below seem almost reminiscent of those of the oppressive Council of Trent in their Papal condemnation of gloriously rich multipart contrapunctal writing. The importation of the Spirit of the Renaissance and the new Humanism had clearly ushered a new age for Russia.

The choral singing here is truly wonderful with fine tone and intonation throughout, as you would expect with Paul Hillier in charge. The recording is good - clean and clear.

This is a highly recommendable recording.

Exquisite Singing - Interesting Music.......2004-09-28

The music on this CD is a fascinating time capsule. In 1712 Peter the Great moved the Russian capital to St. Petersburg. Opening Russia to the influences of the West, he invited European artists and craftsmen, including Italian composers, to come to Russia, and sent Russian composers to study in Italy, to learn modern techiques. Thus, this 18th century music is recognizably Italian, even that written by the Russian composers like Bortniansky. And yet, the evocative Russian Orthodox texts have inspired a uniquely spiritual depth of expression. The title work, "Now the powers of heaven" by Giuseppe Sarti, is lush and beautiful, and reminded me of the Lotti "Crucifixus".

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is wonderful. I don't normally enjoy music from this period, but their singing was so perfect it captivated me totally. Sopranos had a full sound but not much vibrato; intonation was flawless; expressive but still precise. This is the first recording of theirs I have heard. It won't be the last.

Average customer rating: The musical splendour of St Petersburg

The Powers of Heaven [Hybrid SACD] Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Galuppi | Galuppi, Baldassare | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B00020HB82 Release Date: 2004-05-11

Customer Reviews:

The musical splendour of St Petersburg.......2005-07-25

St Petersburg is justly famous for the grand magnificence of its architecture, and this CD explores that splendour in musical terms. Tsar Peter the Great drove Russia into the modern world through his modernization program, without which Russia may have remained in the Middle Ages and certainly would have been no match against the onslaught of later Western European tyrants such as Napoleon and Hitler.

As part of his modernization drive, Peter the Great brought in Western composers - mainly from Italy, where the latest European musical fashions were being wrought at the time. Teachers of composition would likely have held up composers such as Palestrina, Lassus, Gabrielli and Josquin as examples to follow. The teachers must have been highly conservative for Vasily Titov often writes 12-part counterpoint late in the 1600's when this sort of multi-part polychoral writing was going right out fashion in Europe - clearly his Italian teachers had little time for the more avant garde trends set by the likes of Monteverdi - colorful madrigalian trends being thus noticeably absent. The results are an extraordinary mixture of Russian Orthodox stylistic tendencies noticeably in the melodic style, with the polyphonic compositional principles of the Seconda Prattica. Despite the importation of Western techniques, a strongly Russian compositional character comes through strongly. In fact Vasily Titov is arguably a good a composer as Russia has ever produced.

With later Russian composers represented here such as Bortniansky, there seems to be a greater awareness of the latest Western fashions, perhaps even those of the up-and-coming Viennese group of composers such as Haydn, although Italian composers such as Durante were still highly dominant amongst conservative circles at the time. There is certainly a hint of the gallant style entering into the writing, though fortunately the a capella nature of Orthodox liturgical writing (instruments are forbidden in church) lends it a necessary compensatory sobriety.

This is all very rewarding music, reminiscent of the magnificant architecture of St Petersburg - such as the Hermitage, and the Petershof, even if it leaves me wishing there were more works by Titov represented here. The importation of the Spirit of the Renaissance and the new Humanism had clearly ushered a new age for Russia.

The choral singing here is truly wonderful with fine tone and intonation throughout, as you would expect with Paul Hillier in charge. The recording is excellent - clean and clear with the usual enhanced refinement that you would expect from a DSD recording.

This is a highly recommendable SACD release.

Average customer rating:

Count Your Blessings Manufacturer: Memoir Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rota, Nino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005KAW5 Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

1. Lift Up Your Hearts - The Luton Girls Choir
2. Down in the Glen - The Luton Girls Choir
3. Take the Sun - Philip Green, The Luton Girls Choir
4. Someday My Heart Will Awake
5. Serenata
6. O Lovely Night
7. Dream of Olwen
8. Barcarolle
9. Tales from the Vienna Woods
10. My Lady Greensleeves - Philip Green, The Luton Girls Choir
11. My Heart and I
12. Break of Day
13. Clock Is Playing - Philip Green, The Luton Girls Choir
14. Charlie Is My Darling/Skye Boat Song - Philip Green, The Luton Girls Choir
15. Blue Danube Waltz
16. You Are My Heart's Delight
17. Count Your Blessings
18. I Hear Your Voice - Philip Green, The Luton Girls Choir
19. Trees
20. Nuns' Chorus - The Luton Girls Choir,
21. Easter Hymn
22. Holy City

International Music:

1. Ici Paris New Accordion Music
2. Iraqi Mawal & Maqams [Import]
3. Italian Ballads [Import]
4. Jacky & Ben-J [Import]
5. Je T'Aime Je T'Aime Je T'Aime [Import]
6. Jeder Boy Ist Anders/S [Import]
7. Jeune Homme [Import]
8. Jouvay 2000
9. Kenza
10. Kimidakeni Kizuitehoshii [CD-single] [Import]

International Music

International Music