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Contents:
DDD Total time = 77.36 Recorded at St.John the Divine, Duncan Terrace, Islington, London 05-05. May 1999 Laudes Organi Commissioned by the American Guild of Organists, this was the last large scale work (1966) Kodály completed. A secular rather than a religious work, it is based on an eloquent Latin text and is "a fantasy on a twelfth century sequence". The work is a summing up of the composer’s many interests; the spirit of Gregorian chant, the parlando of Hungarian folk song, the almost visual effects he paints with the divided voices and the magnificent organ interludes, reminiscent of the polyphonic writing of Bach. The whole is nevertheless unmistakably Kodály and is a wonderful affirmation of his faith in the life-giving power of music. Esti Dal This much-loved song is based on a folksong collected in Northern Hungary by Kodály in 1922. It first appeared in this form in 1938. Its extraordinary popularity (the text has appeared even in Chinese, Danish and Hebrew translation) is no doubt due to the very simple, almost archetypal evening prayer of all people who live precariously on the land, striking a chord throughout the world. The setting again paints a graphic picture of the longing for rest and security expressed by the text. Panga Lingua This work dates from 1928/9 and sets the lyrical yet profound text of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) intended to be heard during the Consecration. Kodály set the poems in response to a request by his former singing and divinity master at his high school Béla Toldy, to whom the work is dedicated. Beautifully concise, its symmetrical form provides a firm structure for this devotional setting, reminiscent of the great Bruckner motets. Este A youthful work - Kodály was barely 20 when he set the poem by his university teacher Pál Gyulai. The work attained its final form in 1904 and shows remarkable maturity and control. The six-part mixed choir is used to paint a wonderfully evocative pastel of the poem’s subject, the peaceful drifting into sleep. Missa Brevis This Mass was originally composed in 1942 as an organ Mass but was later re-scored for soloists, mixed chorus and organ. It was first performed in 1945 immediately following the final siege of Budapest, in the only undamaged part - the cloakroom of the Budapest Opera House, where the composer and his wife had been sheltering during the last desperate days of World War II; the present writer was amongst the audience at this performance. Missa Brevis contains the usual elements of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei but these are framed by an Introitus for organ solo and concludes with Ite, missa est which serves as a coda. Missa Brevis reflects Kodály’s great expertise in choral writing but does not contain any Hungarian folk elements usually so prevalent in his work. Page revised Friday May 25 2007 |
