Sacred Retreat

This CD invokes the presence of the divine mother. I listend to this CD while at a week long silent meditation retreat. It filled me with a gentle joy, peace and immense loving kindness. It is very calming, gentle and nurturing. It features the following songs: Ganesh Invocation, Devi Prayer and Lalitha Ashtotram, which is a Sanskrit mantra of the 108 sacred names of the mother divine. ~ Brad VanAuken

Monteverdi - Selva Morale E Spirituale - Cantus Cölln, Concerto Palatino, Konrad Junghänel (2001) {3CD Set Harmonia Mundi HMC 901718.20}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 981 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 543 Mb
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© 2001 Harmonia Mundi | HMC 901718.20
Classical / Baroque / Choral / Madrigal / Sacred

From the early 1630s onwards, Monteverdi had little by little become detached from his secular occupations – perhaps preparing to take his leave of earthly existence. But when he was already over 70 he set to work once more, publishing his eighth book of madrigals before offering the public a bulky collection of sacred works in the shape of the Selva morale e spirituale. Infinitely more ambitious than the comparable anthologies of his contemporaries, the work is here presented complete, enabling the listener to discover the whole range of Monteverdi’s output of sacred music, from madrigals and virtuoso solo motets to the most elaborate polyphony. In his preface evoking the multifarious “creatures” sheltered by this vast “moral and spiritual forest”, the father of Baroque music was merely emphasising the wonderful diversity of styles so characteristic of his wide-ranging genius.

Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa - Sacrae Cantiones - The Marian Consort, Rory McCleery (2016) {Delphian DCD34176 }
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 275 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 146 Mb
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© 2016 Delphian Records | DCD34176
Classical / Renaissance / Motets / Choral

Carlo Gesualdo has become notorious, not only from his royalty but for the eccentricities of his life and music. Gruesomely murdering his first wife and her lover, mistreating his second wife and isolating himself have all fuelled the ""myth of Gesualdo as a madman"". Gesualdo turned his prodigious compositional talent to the creation of a collection of pieces that betray his obsession with his own personal sin. The five-voice motets on this release speak as strongly as Gesualdo's words ever could. The Marian Consort possesses both a lean vocal delivery and a robust interpretation of the texts.

Three contrasting versions of the 'Stabat Mater', all most attractive and all composed within 20 years, in the second half of the 18th century. These excellent performances under Daniel Cuiller's direction are also all first recordings - and for Abos and Gasparini, first entries in the CD catalogue. An enterprising release, of great interest.

George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759): Susanna. Oratorio. First performed 1749. Complete version including all the music that Handel later deleted. Performed by Lorraine Hunt and Jill Feldman, soprano, Drew Minter, countertenor, Jeffrey Thomas, tenor, David Thomas and William Parker, bass; the U.C. Berkely Chamber Choir; the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco, conducted by Nicholas McGegan. Recorded live in September, 1989, at the Hertz Hall at the University of California.