Ceremony Ceremony

The juxtaposition of old and new which lies at the heart of much Christmas music lends this recording by the mixed-voice Choir of The Queen’s College Oxford its theme. The repertoire ranges in period from Hildegard of Bingen to pieces composed during the last few years. The central work – Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols – vividly encapsulates the intersection of ancient and modern, setting medieval and Renaissance texts, and drawing on plainchant as musical inspiration, while – in its series of fresh, vivid, and sharply-etched miniatures – eschewing the sentimentality which had become attached to Christmas and its music.

Swedish singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Anna von Hausswolff issued her debut full-length Singing from the Grave in 2012. Despite its sobering title, the album was full of melodic, fragile, Gothic ballads. On Ceremony, the term "Gothic" applies even more here than on its predecessor, yet the music has progressed almost immeasurably. Von Hausswolff employed an Annedal church organ as her primary instrument on this date (it's on nine of the 13 songs), though she also plays piano and synth. Its amazing array of tones, sounds, and timbres color the proceedings with an array of possibilities most pop recordings never imagine, let alone use. Further, Von Hausswolff's approach here has been influenced directly – and admittedly – by the post-metal sonics of Earth and the groundbreaking vocal innovations of Diamanda Galas.

Herbie Hancock - Hear, O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony In Jazz (1968) {Jonny Records JBH025CD rel 2008}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 212 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 91 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 6 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968, 2008 Jonny Records / Trunk | JBH025CD
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Soul Jazz / Modern Creative

In 1965, encouraged by his rabbi, the 17-year-old Jonathan Klein wrote a selection of jazz themes for a Jewish Sabbath concert. Originally recorded in 1968 by an all-star cast of musicians that included Herbie Hancock, Thad Jones, and Ron Carter, the collection is a unique, free-flowing series of pieces that perfectly complement the accompanying Jewish Sabbath prayers, and provides a rare opportunity to hear these talented musicians performing in a unique setting that's at once creative and intensely devotional.

Leonard Cohen was a poet long before he decided to pick up a guitar. Despite singing in a dry baritone over spare arrangements, Cohen is a gifted lyricist who captivates the listener. New Skin for the Old Ceremony may be Leonard Cohen's most musical album, as he is accompanied by violas, mandolins, banjos, and percussion that give his music more texture than usual…

Zoltán Lantos is a virtuoso violinist who combines together Indian music, classical, and jazz in his performances. He blends in well with the reeds of Mihaly Dresch on the complex originals of Tiptoe Ceremony, most of which are played by a quartet with percussionist Kornel Horvath and Gabor Juhasz on guitar or oud. Three songs add the tabla of Peter Szalal and two have the eerie vocalizing of Gabor Winand. Fans of Shakti will find this music to be in a similar vein although Lantos' group has its own identity. It grows in interest with each listen.