Craig Hella Johnson, Victoria Bach Festival & Conspirare - Robert Kyr: The Cloud of Unknowing - Songs of the Soul (2014) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. The Singer's Ode
02. I. Unknowing
03. II. Fearing
04. III. Forgetting
05. IV. Longing
06. I. Waiting
07. II. Thinking
08. III. Beseeching
09. IV. Piercing
10. V. Surrendering
11. VI. Enduring
12. I. Descending: From The Abyss
13. II. Venturing: On A Dark Night
14. III. Hoping: Toward Dawn
15. IV. Transforming: Beloved Into Lover
16. V. Arising: A Time For Song
17. VI. Uniting: Leaving My Cares
18. VII. Transcending: And Love Remains

Craig Hella Johnson leads Conspirare, soprano Estelí Gomez, baritone David Farwig, and the Victoria Bach Festival string orchestra in this first recording of three choral works by Robert Kyr (b. 1952). Exploring the relationship between human and divine love, his cantatas 'The Cloud of Unknowing' (2013) and 'Songs of the Soul' (2011) transfixed audiences and critics alike when Conspirare premiered them. The texts are by the 16th century Spanish mystics St Teresa of Ávila and St John of the Cross, some sung in Spanish, some in English translation. The prelude to the two cantatas, the a cappella anthem, 'The Singer's Ode' is reminiscent of RVW's 'Ode to Music'. Robert Kyr is among the most prolific composers of his generation, having composed 12 symphonies, 3 chamber symphonies, 3 violin concerti, and much chamber music, in addition to numerous vocal works. His choral music is distinguished by a warmly compelling lyricism, as well as by a contrapuntal mastery that arises from his love of early music, especially the work of Dufay, Josquin Des Prez, and above all, Bach...

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