Crucis

Franz Liszt was 67 when he composed his Via Crucis, yet it did not receive its first performance until 1929, 43 years after the composer’s death. This work of his mature years is in 15 sections, retracing the Stations of the Cross that mark the stages of Christ’s Passion, from being condemned to death to being laid in the tomb. Combining Gregorian chant, the Lutheran liturgy and the Latin, German and Aramaic languages, the Via Crucis shows real formal originality. A devout believer, Liszt gives us here his most important sacred work. He composed several versions: for mixed choir, soloists and organ (with the organ part optionally transcribed for piano), for piano solo, organ solo, and two pianos. After a CD devoted to Janacek, the Collegium Vocale founded by Philippe Herreweghe is once again conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw in this new Alpha recording.

Czarnecki as born in 1949 in Jelenia Góra. In 1963-1969, he attended the State Music School in Cz 281;stochowa as a piano class student. It was also there where he took contact with Prof. Romuald Twardowski, with whom he had his first composition lessons. In 1969-1974, he studied composition at the Warsaw Higher State School of Music (currently the Chopin University of Music) in the class of Prof. Piotr Perkowski and Prof. Romuald Twardowski. Vespers for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (Vesperæ in exaltatione Sanctæ Crucis) is a composition that is thoroughly imbued with the Christian tradition. It is almost a complete form of the evening breviary prayer of the Catholic Church written in Latin but already according to the post-conciliar liturgy. The present album features a complete recording of the said work, dedicated to His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

This Argentinian band featured Gustavo Montesano (bass/vocals), Anibel Kerpel (keyboards), Pino Marrone (guitar/vocals) and a drummer from Uruguay named Gonzalo Farrugia (from the known progrock band Psiglo). They existed from '74 until '77 and made two records: "Crusis" from and "Los Delirios Del Mariscal". The music has a typcial Seventies sound with echoes from The Nice and Focus.
Both LP's were released as separate CD's but finally re-released on a 1-CD. The music is half instrumental/half with strong Spanish vocals and the emphasis is on the keybaords (organ, string-ensemble, synthesizers, Steinway - and Fender Rhodes piano), the rhythm-section sounds powerful and adventurous. The compositions are strong and dynamic with surprising breaks and the interplay between the electric guitar (often spectacular wah-wah) and keyboards is captivating…