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Beatus Vir

Recorded live during their 1999 European tour, the Choir of Ormond College presents a delightful mix of music in eight parts by Jacob Handl, Palestrina and Gabrieli, and other beautiful music by Rheinberger, Villette, Stanford, Howells, Monteverdi and Gesualdo.

Speak of choral music and you immediately think of masses, requiems and pieces with orchestral accompaniment. The reality is that the great bulk of choral music was written for performance in its liturgical context on Sunday by church choirs.

This CD contains some of the finest small-scale pieces written for choir, all short enough not to let the congregation doze off before the sermon. It includes music in eight parts by Jacob Handl, Palestrina and Gabrieli, and other beautiful music by Rheinberger, Villette, Stanford, Howells, Monteverdi and Gesualdo.

All tracks were recorded live during the choir's 1999 European tour, which received much praise from the critics:

"... a bewitching sound unfolded as the Choir made its way through the breakneck harmonic progression of Gesualdo's motet 'O vos omnes' with precise intonation and extraordinary security."
(Bonn performance)

"... the incredible professional discipline and the rich sound was most impressive. In the Stanford pieces ... the effect and radiance was in places breathtaking ... encore of a Bach Fugue and two spirituals ... a jazzy drive and enthusiasm that completed the picture of this versatile Choir and swept the audience away."
(Lindau performance)

Artists

Choir of Ormond College

Since its inception in 1982 under the direction of Douglas Lawrence, the Choir of Ormond College has become the first Australian choir to receive ongoing international recognition.

Douglas Lawrence

Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne and was the founding director of Choir of Ormond College, a position he held from 1982 to 2006.


Press quotes

“beautifully sung, as one would expect from this excellent ensemble ... a fine, and useful, CD which I am happy to recommend”

— Henry Howell, Music Teacher Magazine

“... a technical tour-de-force, which the young voices dispatch with aplomb ... the disc shows off the considerable ability and youthful enthusiasm of the group to advantage.”

— Tony Way, The Age - Green Guide

“splendid”

— New Classics, UK

“fine singing ... enhanced by the warm acoustic of the church”

— Bill Hoffmann, Canberra Times

Audio preview

Track Listing

  1. Stabat Mater Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
  2. Sicut Cervus Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
  3. Tu es Petrus Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
  4. O vos omnes Carlo Gesualdo
  5. Pater noster Jacob Handl
  6. Jubilate Deo Giovanni Gabrieli
  7. Cantate Domino Claudio Monteverdi
  8. Beatus vir Claudio Monteverdi

    9. Three Motets, Op. 38 Charles Villiers Stanford

  9. Justorum animae
  10. Coelos ascendit hodie
  11. Beati quorum via
  12. Abendlied, Op. 69, No. 3 Josef Gabriel Rheinberger

Performers

Where to buy

Beatus Vir is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

Beatus Vir is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Engineer
Martin Wright
Editing
Vaughan McAlley
Release date
2000
Copyright
© 2000 Move Records
Phonogram
℗ 2000 Move Records
Categories
Baroque, Choral, Early music
Catalogue number
MD 3220
Alternate catalogue number
MD3220
Barcode
EAN 9314574322026