Listening Diary: a cappella: Robert Shaw

There isn't much to quibble with on this very fine 2005 Telarc release, a compilation of Shaw's best choral recordings. I am sure there are those who might say it bogs down a little around track 12, but I'm not complaining. The traditional tunes included here (arranged by Shaw) give me a chance to get up and go to the bathroom or get a cup of tea. Maybe it's the Catholic in me but I've really always loved the Counter-Reformation music of Victoria. While his music isn't always as transcendentally beautiful as Palestrina's, he certainly got in the spirit of saving the pope in a particular Spanish fashion. His O vos omnes is track 1 and sets the tone for this gorgeously sung disc, which also includes fine choral settings by Brahms, Debussy, Britten and others (Arvo Part's Magnificat is also stunningly sublime). If it slipped under your radar it is certainly worth picking up.

Label: Telarc
Catalog No: TLC 80656
New Release: No
Previous Release: No
Domestic/Import: Domestic
Format: CD

1 O vos omnes, qui transitis per viam
Composer: Victoria, Tom s Luis de Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 5 Seconds: 9 Period: Renaissance FormGenre: Motet Written: by 1572 Country: Spain Language: Latin StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Quercy, France

2 A new commandment
Composer: Tallis, Thomas Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 3 Seconds: 11 Period: Renaissance FormGenre: Anthem Written: 16th Century Country: England Language: English StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Quercy, France

3 Motets , 4) pour un temps de p‚nitence: no 2, Vinea mea electa
Composer: Poulenc, Francis Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 3 Seconds: 46 Period: 20th Century FormGenre: Motet Written: 1938 Country: France Language: Latin StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Quercy, France

4 Motets , 4) pour le temps de No‰l: no 3, Videntes stellam
Composer: Poulenc, Francis Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 2 Seconds: 51 Period: 20th Century FormGenre: Motet Written: 1951 Country: France Language: Latin StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Quercy, France

5 Chansons , 3) de Charles d'Orl‚ans: no 1, Dieu! qu'il la fait bon regarder
Composer: Debussy, Claude Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 2 Seconds: 22 Period: 20th Century FormGenre: Chanson / Partsong Written: 1898 Country: France Language: French StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France

6 Songs , 7), Op. 62: no 3, Waldesnacht
Composer: Brahms, Johannes Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 2 Seconds: 26 Period: Romantic FormGenre: Chorus Written: ?1874 Country: Austria Language: German StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France

7 Songs , 3), Op. 42: no 1, Abendst„ndchen
Composer: Brahms, Johannes Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 2 Seconds: 1 Period: Romantic FormGenre: Chorus Written: 1859 Country: Germany Language: German StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France

8 Heavenly Light
Composer: Kop‹lov, Aleksandr A. Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Chamber Singers Minutes: 2 Seconds: 57 Period: Romantic FormGenre: Song Country: Russia Language: English StudioLive: Studio Venue: Symphony Hall, Atlanta, Georgia Notes: Arranger: Peter Wilhousky.

9 Vespers, Op. 37: no 4, Peaceful light
Composer: Rachmaninov, Sergei Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 4 Seconds: 15 Period: Romantic FormGenre: Vespers Written: 1915 Country: Russia Language: Russian StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France

10 Vespers, Op. 37: no 15, Hymn to the Mother of God
Composer: Rachmaninov, Sergei Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 1 Seconds: 45 Period: Romantic FormGenre: Vespers Written: 1915 Country: Russia Language: Russian StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France

11 Ride on, King Jesus!
Composer: Traditional Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 2 Seconds: 11 FormGenre: Spiritual Language: English StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France Notes: Arrangers: Robert Shaw; Alice Parker.

12 Sometimes I feel like a moanin' dove
Composer: Traditional Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 4 Seconds: 51 FormGenre: Spiritual Language: English StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France Notes: Arrangers: Robert Shaw; Alice Parker.

13 Same train
Composer: Traditional Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 2 Seconds: 30 FormGenre: Spiritual Language: English StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France Notes: Arrangers: Robert Shaw; Alice Parker.

14 Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27: In a Garden Shady
Composer: Britten, Benjamin Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 3 Seconds: 2 Period: 20th Century FormGenre: Hymn Written: 1942 Country: England Language: English StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France

15 Quattro pezzi sacri: Ave Maria
Composer: Verdi, Giuseppe Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Atlanta Symphony Chorus Minutes: 4 Seconds: 52 Period: Romantic FormGenre: Hymn Written: 1889-1897 Country: Italy Language: Latin StudioLive: Studio Venue: Symphony Hall, Atlanta, Georgia

16 Magnificat
Composer: P„rt, Arvo Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 9 Seconds: 14 Period: 20th Century FormGenre: Magnificat Written: 1989 Country: Germany Language: Latin StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France

17 Mass for Double Chorus: Kyrie
Composer: Martin, Frank [Composer] Conductor: Shaw, Robert [Conductor] Ensemble: Robert Shaw Festival Singers Minutes: 6 Seconds: 30 Period: 20th Century FormGenre: Kyrie / Mass Country: Switzerland Language: Greek StudioLive: Studio Venue: Robert Shaw Festival, Gramat, France Notes: Composition written: Switzerland (1922 - 1926).