Beholding Beauty — June 5, 2020

Derived from a range of outstanding choral music, my themed Playlists are designed to be like concerts, of about an hour in length.

This week’s Playlist examines the beauty of humanity, nature and the heavens from the eye of the beholder, with works by Barber, Brahms, Debussy, Lauridsen and more.

Listen on YouTube:

Listen on Spotify:

PROGRAM

Click the links for information on the pieces and texts/translations.

Sure On This Shining Night Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

 

Text

Performed by Conspirare, conducted by Craig Hella Johnson

 

O schöne Nacht, Op.92, No.1 

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

 

Translation

Performed by RIAS Kammerchor, conducted by Marcus Creed

 

Johannes Brahms

Der Gang zum Liebchen, Op.31, No.3

Translation

Performed by RIAS Kammerchor, conducted by Marcus Creed

 

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder! (from Chansons de Charles d’Orléans)

Translation

Performed by Monteverdi Choir, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner

 

Trois beaux oiseaux du Paradis (from Trois Chansons)
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

 

Translation

Performed by Monteverdi Choir, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner

 

Les fleurs et les arbres, Op.68, No.2Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

 

The flowers and the trees,
The bronzes, the marbles,
The golds, the enamels,
The sea, the fountains,
The mountains and the plains
Console our pain.

Eternal nature,
You seem more beautiful
To a heart in sorrow,
And art reigns over us,
Its flame illuminates the laughter and tears.
                    Unknown

Performed by Monteverdi Choir, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner

 

For the Beauty of the Earth

John Rutter (b. 1945)

 

Text

Performed by The Cambridge Singers & City of London Sinfonia, conducted by John Rutter

 

O How Amiable
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

 

Text

Performed by Elora Festival Singers, conducted by Noel Edison

 

In Paradisum (from Requiem)
Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)

 

Into Paradise may the angels lead you,
may the martyrs welcome you in your coming
and guide you into the holy city Jerusalem.

A chorus of angels will greet you,
and with Lazarus, once a beggar,
may you have eternal rest.
                  Requiem Liturgy

Performed by Swedish Radio Choir, conducted by Fredrik Malmberg (Spotify)
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, conducted by Graham Ross (YouTube)

 

Pleni sunt caeli et terra Gloria tua (from The Ground

Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978)

)

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.
                  Mass Liturgy

Performed by Phoenix Chorale, conducted by Charles Bruffy

 

Nigra Sum

Pablo Casals (1876-1973)

 

Background and Translation

Performed by Voices of Ascension, conducted by Dennis Keene

 

I Beheld Her Beautiful as a Dove

Healey Willan (1880-1968)

 

I beheld her, beautiful as a dove, rising above the waterbrooks;
and her raiment was filled with perfume beyond all price.

Even as the springtime was she girded with rosebuds and lilies of the valley.
Who is this that cometh up from the desert like a wreath of sweet smoke
arising from frankincense and myrrh?
                  Responsories from an Office of Our Lady

Performed by Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge, conducted by Mark Williams

 

Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?

Nils Lindberg (b. 1933)

 

Text

Performed by Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, conducted by Grete Pedersen

 

Les Chansons des Rose

Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)

s

En une seule fleur
Contre qui, rose
De ton rêve trop plein
La rose complète
Dirait-on

Translations

Performed by Elora Festival Singers, conducted by Noel Edison