Mumsnet Talk

Hi

I love, love, love the Agnus Dei piece by Samuel Barber that they sing early on in the programme - so emotional
Barbers Adagio for strings always makes me actually weep cry (makes me think of 9/11) not a choral piece obviously (and my favourite version is by Canadian Brass!)
I loved Agnus Dei and would love a CD with similar stuff on it. - Ive got loads of classical CDs but most of them dont inspire me all that much.

Anyone else a fan of Samuel Barber? - Any particularly good CDs to buy? Is his stuff largely depressing or rousing?

If anyone can reccomend any fantastic choral CDs/composers to check out I would be most pleased!
In fact any classical CDs anyone would like to rave about Id be happy to read your ravings!

Thanks all -its late now so obviously off to bed but I hope to be inspired by a classical fan tommorrow

Choral music has been my life long passion and I was lucky enough to grow up with a church choir which performed the most wonderful pieces. I was a member of that choir from age 5 up to 35, and have sung so much beautiful music with them. I've sung loads of other stuff with lots of other choirs too.

Barber is indeed lovely.

My first recomm would be anything performed by The Sixteen.
Bach Cantata no 11.
Caldara Crucifixus
Purcell Funeral Sentences

They're among my favourites.

That'll do for a start!

YOu might like music written by Eric Whitacre - have a look on youtube.

Also Morton Lauridsen, especially his Magnum Mysterium which is very seasonal.

I love the Bruckner Motets.
I second the recommendations for The Sixteen.

Absolutely agree with Jux. The sixteen is wonderful to listen to.

There's an aamazing cd I have if you like very early music. it's called "Feather on the breath of God". The composer is Abbess Hildegarde of Bingen. The music is astonishingly beautiful. Very bare and simple, but very beautiful.

There's also quite a bit of 'crossover' type choral stuff, like Karl Jenkins' Adiemus.
If you have a cathedral nearby, I recommend going to choral Evensong, even if you aren't religious.

Rutter, Whitacre, Jenkins - all fab to sing as well 'The Holly and the Ivy' by Matthew Owens is interesting too.

So sorry to start this thread and then disappear!
Im so pleased to see some wonderful ideas - just sorry I cant check them out at this moment!

My new love is the glorious sound of the Amish singing (on the Channel 4 series - living with the Amish). The way they harmonise with each other is amazing
But none available for sale on cd or to download that I can find [sob]
I could listen to them sing all day!

I will check out all your suggestions - I heard choral evensong on radio 3 by chance yesterday and it was truly fab