Simpson: Eppur Si Muove For Organ, Tempi, etc. / Coryden Brass, Best, et al

On this CD:

1. Canzona for brass
Composed by Robert Simpson
Performed by Corydon Brass Ensemble
Conducted by Matthew Best

2. Media morte in vita sumus, motet for chorus, brass & timpani
Composed by Robert Simpson
Performed by Corydon Brass Ensemble
Conducted by Matthew Best

3. Eppur si muove, for organ
Composed by Robert Simpson
Performed by Iain Quinn

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Hyperion has released this disc as a memorial tribute to English composer Robert Simpson, who died in 1997 at age 76. Simpson was best known for his symphonies, but this record presents another side to his work: his only compositions for chorus and for organ. The organ work "Eppur si muove" ("But it does move"--the words Galileo purportedly muttered upon being forced to recant his theory that the earth circles the sun) is based on a circling pattern of notes; the bulk of the piece is a passacaglia (a set of variations over a repeated bass melody) with circling on both micro and macro levels--micro in the circling of the theme itself, macro in that the successive statements of that theme move up in key through the entire chromatic scale and back to the original key. The motet for chorus, brass, and percussion "Media morte in vita sumus" ("In the midst of death we are in life"), whose title inverts the phrase "In the midst of life we are in death" from the Christian burial liturgy, is a long prelude with constantly shifting tonal centers leading into a restless, exciting fugue. The centerpiece of the disc is "Tempi" for unaccompanied chorus, with a text made up entirely of musical terms: the piece goes--literally--from adagio through andante and allegretto to prestissimo and back, with plenty of words such as pianissimo, crescendo, furioso, and tranquillo thrown in. It's a witty idea, but the music seems surprisingly serious; while there are some striking melodies and harmonies, there's no discernible humor, at least in the Corydon Singers' precise but straight-faced reading. The heroes of this record are the brass players, whose command of tone color is astonishing: in the Canzona for brass that opens the disc, they evoke, by turns, clarinets, violins, and accordions as well as trumpets, horns, and trombones. --Matthew Westphal

Simpson: Eppur Si Muove For Organ, Tempi, etc. / Coryden Brass, Best, et al, Music, Robert Simpson, Matthew Best, Iain Quinn, Matthew Best, Coryden Brass Ensemble, Coryden Singers, Iain Quinn, Chamber, Chamber Music, Choral, Choral Music, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Keyboard

Simpson: Eppur Si Muove For Organ, Tempi, etc. / Coryden Brass, Best, et al
Average customer rating:

Simpson choral and organ

Organ-Organ-Organ!!!

It wasn't what I expected.

Two fantastic pieces for chorus

Simpson: Eppur Si Muove For Organ, Tempi, etc. / Coryden Brass, Best, et al
Matthew Best , Coryden Brass Ensemble , Coryden Singers , and Iain Quinn
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Robert Simpson: String Quartets Nos. 3 & 6; String Trio

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Robert Simpson: String Quartet No. 9

Simpson: Violin Sonata

Robert Simpson: String Quartet No. 7; String Quartet No. 8

ASIN: B00000G3Z9
Release Date: 1998-11-24

Tracks:

Canzona For Bass
Media Morte In Vita Sumus
Tempi
Eppur Si Muove For Organ: Ricercar
Eppur Si Muove For Organ: Passacaglia

Amazon.com

Hyperion has released this disc as a memorial tribute to English composer Robert Simpson, who died in 1997 at age 76. Simpson was best known for his symphonies, but this record presents another side to his work: his only compositions for chorus and for organ. The organ work "Eppur si muove" ("But it does move"--the words Galileo purportedly muttered upon being forced to recant his theory that the earth circles the sun) is based on a circling pattern of notes; the bulk of the piece is a passacaglia (a set of variations over a repeated bass melody) with circling on both micro and macro levels--micro in the circling of the theme itself, macro in that the successive statements of that theme move up in key through the entire chromatic scale and back to the original key. The motet for chorus, brass, and percussion "Media morte in vita sumus" ("In the midst of death we are in life"), whose title inverts the phrase "In the midst of life we are in death" from the Christian burial liturgy, is a long prelude with constantly shifting tonal centers leading into a restless, exciting fugue. The centerpiece of the disc is "Tempi" for unaccompanied chorus, with a text made up entirely of musical terms: the piece goes--literally--from adagio through andante and allegretto to prestissimo and back, with plenty of words such as pianissimo, crescendo, furioso, and tranquillo thrown in. It's a witty idea, but the music seems surprisingly serious; while there are some striking melodies and harmonies, there's no discernible humor, at least in the Corydon Singers' precise but straight-faced reading. The heroes of this record are the brass players, whose command of tone color is astonishing: in the Canzona for brass that opens the disc, they evoke, by turns, clarinets, violins, and accordions as well as trumpets, horns, and trombones. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Simpson choral and organ.......2002-08-13

The choral works on here are superb. What a shame Simpson didn't write more for chorus, particularly sacred works. The Corydon Singers perform excellently.

The brass pieces were not what I expected, but were certainly very interesting. The playing was also superb.

The highlight though the organ piece and this was also the reason I decided to spend the money on this CD. I heard Mr. Quinn perform in Lisbon a few years ago and thought it was the best organ concert I had been to in years. I have bought all of his CDs. What I like is that he doesn't just play the same old pieces that everyone else plays but goes to lengths to dredge the repertoire for neglected masterworks. Who would have thought Czerny and Taneyev wrote organ pieces? These I thought were just great and I loved his programme.

Congratulations to Hyperion for finding such wonderful artists, especially the Corydon Singers and Iain Quinn and their commitment to the music of Simpson. BRAVO!

Organ-Organ-Organ!!!.......2001-05-02

All music lovers should hear this CD if only for the organ piece. This is an unbelievable piece. Like the big Liszt and Reubke pieces its almost 30 mins, except that the harmonic language is like nothing you've ever heard. To hear this performed live must be truly awesome. Quinn's playing is stunning. There must be a thousand notes in this and he plays it with absolute security.

The choral pieces are good too and the Coydon singers have really skill. The recoding sound is excellent for both sets of pieces. Bravo Hyperion for this ambitious release!!

It wasn't what I expected........1999-01-11

The c/d had exalant vocals but not enough brass

Two fantastic pieces for chorus.......1998-12-29

The good news is that there are two stunning choral masterpieces on this disc, In Media Morte.. and Tempi. The bad news is that Simpson didn't write anything else for chorus (he died in Nov 1997). Listen and come away invigorated.

Music Review:

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