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Special offer. Robert Simpson: Complete Choral and Organ Music
Ian Quinn (organ of Westminster Cathedral)
Corydon Simgers, Corydon Brass Ensemble
Simpson would never have claimed that choral music was his métier. Yet for lovers of his music there's something especially revealing about the two pieces recorded here. In Media morte in vitasumus...
Special offer. Robert Simpson: Complete Choral and Organ Music
Ian Quinn (organ of Westminster Cathedral)
Corydon Simgers, Corydon Brass Ensemble
Purchase product
Simpson would never have claimed that choral music was his métier. Yet for lovers of his music there's something especially revealing about the two pieces recorded here. In Media morte in vitasumus...
About
Like Beethoven, Robert Simpson generally conceived his music instrumentally rather than vocally. He confessed to being uneasy when faced with the task of word-setting. However, both the choral works recorded here resolve the problem with originality (and, in the case of Tempi, humour), leaving no doubt that Simpson's handling of choral forces is capable of a wide expressive range and great physical impact. In media morte vita sumus ('In the midst of death we are in life') is for mixed chorus, brass and timpani. The text is Simpson's own, translated into Latin. In the composer's own words, it 'outlines a simple and practical morality without which humanity must be at lethal risk. It has nothing to do with religion, and explains itself'. The text of Tempi consists entirely of familiar Italian musical terms ('Allegro grazioso', etc) whose meanings are reflected in the music. Eppur si muove (Ricercar e Passacaglia) is Simpson's only work for organ and is cast in one enormous movement in two large sections. The title means 'But it does move' and is what Galileo is said to have muttered on being forced by the Church to recant his view that the earth revolved round the sun.
Contents and tracklist
- Corydon Brass Ensemble
- Matthew Best
- Corydon Singers, Corydon Brass Ensemble
- Matthew Best
- Iain Quinn (organ)
Awards and reviews
2010
Simpson would never have claimed that choral music was his métier. Yet for lovers of his music there's something especially revealing about the two pieces recorded here. In Media morte in vitasumus ('In the midst of death we are in life') he deliberately reverses the scriptural motto in order to articulate his personal 'anti-pessimist' creed.
The musical setting for chorus, brass and timpani is appropriately austere, and Simpson's words are translated into Latin for the sake of universality.
Tempi for a cappella chorus is a jeu d'esprit, the text consisting entirely of Italian tempo and character markings. The Corydon Singers offers superbly confident performances, as does the Corydon Brass Ensemble which also shines in the comparatively well-known Canzona.
It's impossible to avoid comparisons with Nielsen when it comes to the 31-minute Eppur si muove ('But it does move') for organ. This 12-minute ricercare followed by a 19-minute passacaglia sets its jaw squarely against conventional organ-loft grandiosity. Its intellectual monumentality is clearly in the Commotio mould, though it's considerably tougher going than Nielsen's late masterpiece. Iain Quinn joins the long line of dedicated performers who have made Hyperion's Simpson series such a consistent triumph. Recording quality leaves nothing to be desired.
