Overview

You may be sure, dear friend, that I did not compose my works as one might put on a church vestment instead of an overcoat, but that it has sprung from the truly fervent faith of my heart, such as I have felt it since my childhood. . . and therefore I can truly say that my Mass has been more prayed than composed. - Franz Liszt to Dr. Gille, Zurich, November 14, 1856 In celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Franz Liszt, Gloriae Dei Cantores presents an overview of his sacred choral music, including the Missa Choralis , settings of the Pater noster and Ave maris stella , and other works. Faith of My Heart explores the lesser-known, deeply spiritual side of Franz Liszt-the man who fought tirelessly to raise the standards of sacred music, setting aside all notions of popular esteem to remain faithful to his vocation as a true church musician. Despite the intense personal suffering and upheaval in his life, Liszt always returned to the church for refuge, comfort, and strength. This hard-won peace, as well as his passionate insistence on raising the caliber of sacred music, is reflected in this recording.

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9781557257727

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It's rare to find a recorded program like this, so for specialists and fans of late-Romantic church music, it's a welcome addition to the catalog. -Classics Today These are rewarding performances from Gloriae Dei Cantores. Their belief in Liszt's music is evident in every measure. And they certainly must be commended for their vocal control in pieces where harmony is often at odds with expectation... The recording...is an intimate affair. There is a generous sense of ambience here, and in louder passages the sound swells to envelope you as you listen...in SACD surround mode. Stimulating- an excellent way to experience the special sound world Liszt creates in his choral music. -Audiophile Audition This is a formidable program by any reckoning. Especially moving are his spiritually rapt Lord's Prayer, an Ave Maris Stella that makes excellent use of the organ, and a powerfully chromatic Qui Seminant in Lacrimis (All they that sow in grief and tears, in truth shall reap their harvest gladly) I admire the singing- gutsy performances of gutsy music. Liszt wasn't playing around here, and neither is anybody else...As always with Gloriae Dei Cantores, full notes, texts and translations in a handsomely designed booklet. -American Record Guide The singers of Gloriae Dei Cantores have been praised on these pages for their virtues-their textural clarity, their balance, their intonation, their luminous tone quality, their sure sense of ensemble in a broad range of repertoire from Gregorian Chant through Bach on to the Romantics and the moderns. The familiar virtues are evident here. This...selection samples Liszt's sacred choral music from what may be his earliest venture in the genre (Ave Maria I, which the current Grove dates from 1842) to one of his last (Qui seminant in lacrimis, 1884), from the radiantly simple (Pater Noster III) to the harmonically twisted (Qui seminant), from the intimate (the opening movements of Rosario) to the rousing (Nun danket alle Gott). But whatever the terms of the music, the group fulfills them, all the while offering limpidity without insipidity, expressivity without exaggeration...Warmly recommended. -Fanfare This recording makes an early entry into the Liszt year. It is welcome because it shows two sides of the composer's religious music, the meditative and the exuberant. The choral sound, especially in the Mass, is bright, full...and well-balanced. -Fanfare

This recording makes an early entry into the Liszt year. It is welcome because it shows two sides of the composer's religious music, the meditative and the exuberant. The choral sound, especially in the Mass, is bright, full...and well-balanced. -Fanfare The singers of Gloriae Dei Cantores have been praised on these pages for their virtues-their textural clarity, their balance, their intonation, their luminous tone quality, their sure sense of ensemble in a broad range of repertoire from Gregorian Chant through Bach on to the Romantics and the moderns. The familiar virtues are evident here. This...selection samples Liszt's sacred choral music from what may be his earliest venture in the genre (Ave Maria I, which the current Grove dates from 1842) to one of his last (Qui seminant in lacrimis, 1884), from the radiantly simple (Pater Noster III) to the harmonically twisted (Qui seminant), from the intimate (the opening movements of Rosario) to the rousing (Nun danket alle Gott). But whatever the terms of the music, the group fulfills them, all the while offering limpidity without insipidity, expressivity without exaggeration...Warmly recommended. -Fanfare This is a formidable program by any reckoning. Especially moving are his spiritually rapt Lord's Prayer, an Ave Maris Stella that makes excellent use of the organ, and a powerfully chromatic Qui Seminant in Lacrimis (All they that sow in grief and tears, in truth shall reap their harvest gladly) I admire the singing- gutsy performances of gutsy music. Liszt wasn't playing around here, and neither is anybody else...As always with Gloriae Dei Cantores, full notes, texts and translations in a handsomely designed booklet. -American Record Guide These are rewarding performances from Gloriae Dei Cantores. Their belief in Liszt's music is evident in every measure. And they certainly must be commended for their vocal control in pieces where harmony is often at odds with expectation... The recording...is an intimate affair. There is a generous sense of ambience here, and in louder passages the sound swells to envelope you as you listen...in SACD surround mode. Stimulating- an excellent way to experience the special sound world Liszt creates in his choral music. -Audiophile Audition It's rare to find a recorded program like this, so for specialists and fans of late-Romantic church music, it's a welcome addition to the catalog. -Classics Today

Author Information

Gloriae Dei Cantores (Singers to the Glory of God) holds a passionate dedication to illuminate truth and beauty through choral artistry, celebrating a rich tradition of sacred choral music from Gregorian chant through the twenty-first century. Currently under the direction of Richard K. Pugsley, Gloriae Dei Cantores has received critical acclaim for its artistic elegance, performance authenticity, and compelling spirituality. Sharing its vision of inspiration and hope, the choir has toured extensively, touching the hearts of audiences in twenty-four countries in Europe, Asia, and N. America. Its discography of over fifty recordings is distributed internationally through Paraclete Recordings, a division of Paraclete Press, Inc., and NAXOS, Inc. The choir makes its home in Orleans, MA. www.gdcchoir.org

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