The music in this collection, inspired by religious thought and liturgical text, has been selected in honor of Pope John Paul II's visit to Paris in August of 1997 to celebrate Mass as part of the Worldwide Days of Youth. Much of the music here is very familiar to even casual listeners to classical music. From J. S. Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," to a rousing version of "Hallelujah" from Handel's 'Messiah,' this CD plays like a greatest hits of church music from the last 400 years.
This CD is markable reissue of very rare first LP of Somei Satoh. Like several other composers of his generation, Somei Satoh has an affinity for mysticism and meditation, and he attempts to convey stillness and timelessness in his extremely slow music. His works may be described as ambient, but their minor key harmonies and step-wise melodies seem more conventional than the blurred, unearthly sonorities usually found in that atmospheric genre.
The chant and polyphony on this record is easier to approach than that on the Patriarchate Choir's Panikhida disc (OPS 30-97). The znamenny chant is "harmonized" in a way that shows clear Western influence: The parts often move in parallel thirds; six-four chords are common; the melodies seem to move toward a tonic. Fortunately, distinctive Russian elements remain. The basic melodies are typical of znamenny chant; there are plenty of passing-tone dissonances; and the most usual cadence is 1-4-5 (e.g., d-g-a), which gives a pleasing shimmer to the ending of each chant. The performance by Anatoly Grindenko and his singers is entirely persuasive. This is yet another valuable addition to the discography of this important, little-known repertory.
Crimson Gold presents Ian Hunter & Mott the Hoople Gold. Led by singer-songwriter Ian of sixteen UK and us singles. CD 1 opens with the David Bowie penned 'All The Young Dudes' from 1972. Hunter, Mott the Hoople burst on to the seventies rock scene with classic tracks such as 'All The Young Dudes', 'Roll Away The Stone' and 'All The Way From Memphis'. This essential compilation features the very best of Mott the Hoople alongside classic tracks from Ian Hunter's solo albums across three CDs, plus an exclusive introduction from Mott and Hunter biographer, Campbell Devine. Gold contains a total The song shot to #3 in the UK singles chart and has been acclaimed as a timeless rock anthem. Other classic Mott the Hoople tracks on this disc include the Top Ten hits 'All The Way From Memphis' And 'Roll Away The Stone'. CC 2 features more hits including 'The Golden Age Of Rock & Roll', 'Saturday Gigs', 'Foxy, Foxy' and 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy'. CD 3 rounds off this definitive collection with fan favorite tracks from Ian Hunter's classic solo albums including 'All-American Alien Boy', 'England Rocks' and 'All Of The Good Ones Are Taken'.