Equinox Voces8

• Traditional:
• 1 In Paradisum (Processional) 00:56
• Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621):
• 2 Es ist ein Ros entsprungen 03:56
• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976):
• 3 A Hymn to the Virgin 03:55
• Traditional:
• 4 Maria Durch ein Dornwald ging (Arr. Stefan Claas) 02:20
• Hieronymus Praetorius (1590 - 1629):
• 5 Joseph, lieber Joseph mein 01:55
• Traditional:
• 6 Angelus ad Virginem 03:06
• Graham Lack (b. 1954):
• 7 This Ember Night 06:53
• Jonathan Dove (b. 1959): The Passing of the Year:
• 8 The Passing of the Year: I. Invocation 01:18
• 9 The Passing of the Year: II. The narrow bud opens her beauties to the sun 02:49
• 10 The Passing of the Year: III. Answer July 02:00
• 11 The Passing of the Year: IV. Hot sun, cool fire 02:50
• 12 The Passing of the Year: V. Ah, Sun-flower! 02:07
• 13 The Passing of the Year: VI. Adieu! Farewell earth's bliss! 05:26
• 14 The Passing of the Year: VII. Ring out, wild bells 04:38
• Arvo Part (b. 1935):
• 15 Magnificat 07:04
• Philip Stopford (b. 1977):
• 16 Ave Maris Stella 03:49
• Thomas Tallis (1505 - 1585):
• 17 God Grant with Grace 01:23
• Jonathan Dove:
• 18 In Beauty May I Walk 04:47
• Traditional:
• 19 Requiem Aeternam 00:59
• Gabriel Faure (1845 - 1924):
• 20 Pie Jesu (From "Requiem, Op. 48") (Arr. Barnaby Smith) 03:40
• Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934):
• 21 They Are at Rest 03:53
• Traditional:
• 22 In Paradisum (Recessional) 01:04
• Total Runtime 01:10:48

Info for Equinox

Equinox is the latest release in collaboration with VOCES8 composer in residence Jonathan Dove. Centered around Dove's song cycle The Passing of the Year with the composer at the piano, the disc contrasts the cycles of the seasons alongside the Church year.

"Your attitude toward the English vocal octet (hey, truth in advertising) Voces8 may ultimately be determined by your general feeling toward smooth, crossover-oriented choral singing, conservative in style. But if you have the slightest sympathy toward that, there are good reasons to choose Voces8 over other similar groups: their sound is sensuous without being sentimental, the engineering here from Abbey Road Studios (with composer Jonathan Dove using John Lennon's piano in his work The Passing of the Year, no less) is superb, and above all, the group's programming concepts are inventive and manage to teach while they entertain. That has never been more true than on Equinox, a program that uses the concept of seasonal transition both literally and metaphorically, and thus weaves together sacred and secular material in an unusually effective way. Both growth and death are quietly addressed. The program likewise integrates Renaissance and contemporary material effectively: this is a staple of English choral recordings, but the marriage here seems deeper and more convincing. As for the engineering, Abbey Road's engineers are uncanny in capturing the quiet sounds of Graham Lack's This Ember Night (sample track seven for a taste of what awaits those with even moderately good equipment). The "ember night," one might add, is a pagan concept. The Passing of the Year, for chorus and piano, is undeniably relevant thematically, but whether the piano disturbs the mood is something that may vary by individual listener. On balance, an intriguing and splendidly made album of music for small vocal group." (James Manheim, AMG)

"The singing of VOCES8 is impeccable in its quality of tone and balance. They bring a new dimension to the word 'ensemble' with meticulous timing and tuning." (Gramophone)

"The slickest of the lot... fans of a cappella ought to hear this." (BBC Radio 3)

VOCES8

VOCES8
is one of the most exciting and versatile vocal groups in the world. The multi award-winning ensemble fulfils an international annual touring schedule across Europe, the USA, Asia and Africa. Performance venues include the Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Tokyo Opera City, Tel Aviv Opera House, National Concert Hall Taipei, Cite de la Musique in Paris, Dijon Opera House, National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing and Shanghai Concert Hall. Highlights of the 2013/2014 season include an extensive European concert schedule in addition to tours to the USA, Indonesia, Korea, Dubai, Moscow, and for “La Folle Journee” in Nantes and Tokyo.

With a specialism in classical choral music, the group performs repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique Jazz and Pop arrangements. The ensemble regularly commissions and collaborates with world-renowned contemporary composers including Ola Gjeilo, Roxanna Panufnik, Thomas Hewitt Jones, Alexander Levine and Ben Parry. VOCES8 is delighted to be in partnership with the acclaimed arranger, Jim Clements as Arranger in Residence.

With an ongoing programme of recordings and live broadcast, VOCES8 is heard regularly on international television and radio, including Deutschlandradio Kultur, ARTE TV, Radio France Musique, BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. VOCES8 has recorded a series of award-winning discs for Signum Classics, including ‘Choral Tapestry’, ‘Bach Motets’, ‘Aces High’ and ‘Christmas’. The group has major recording plans for future disc releases to be announced in the coming season. VOCES8 is also an Ambassador for Edition Peters with whom it publishes arrangements and educational material, including the ‘VOCES8 Songbook’ and the ‘VOCES8 Method’.

Outreach and Education are at the core of VOCES8’s work and the group is delighted to be the flagship performance and education ensemble of the charitable music foundation, Voces Cantabiles Music (VCM). The ensemble leads an innovative series of music education workshops reaching 20,000 people annually around the world with the aim of inspiring creativity and excellence through music. The innovative education work of VCM has received praise from UNESCO. In 2013 VCM established the Gresham Centre in partnership with the Diocese of London, a vocal Centre for Excellence at Sir Christopher Wren’s beautiful St Anne & St Agnes Church, in the City of London. VOCES8 is also resident ensemble at Bedford School, Ardingly College, The Grey Coat Hospital and Milton Abbey.

Artistic collaborations with orchestras have included the Philharmonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra and period ensemble Les Inventions. VOCES8 has received support from Arts Council England, the Musicians Benevolent Fund and the Worshipful Company of Musicians. The group is also grateful for the support of official sponsor, T.M.Lewin.

This album contains no booklet.