Duruflé: Complete Choral Works

Duruflé: Complete Choral Works is the seventh release by the choral group Houston Chamber Choir performing the unabridged choral works of composer Maurice Duruflé. Conducted by Artistic Director Robert Simpson and performed by organist Ken Cowan, the project is their first to be released under the Signum Classics label.[1] The album won the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance.[2][3]

Duruflé: Complete Choral Works
Studio album by
Houston Chamber Choir, Robert Simpson, Ken Cowan
ReleasedApril 5, 2019 (2019-04-05)
RecordedJune 2017
VenueRice University in Houston, Texas
StudioEdythe Bates Old Organ Hall, Shepherd School of Music
GenreClassical music
Length1:08:42
LabelSignum Classics SIGCD571
ProducerBlanton Alspaugh

Overview

Artistic Director Robert Simpson originally planned to perform the works of Duruflé for the choir's 2016–2017 season opening concert.[4] But as the concert began to take shape, Simpson realized that the program was simply too special to perform for a singular concert, thereby driving the decision to launch a full recording project. He said the whole process was "a labor of love from the very start".[5] The choir and organist Ken Cowan were joined by soloists Eduardo Tercero- Baritone, Cecilia Duarte- Mezzo Soprano and Norman Fischer- Cello for the recording.

Reception

Mark Rochester of Gramophone writes of the 'highly polished, virtually flawless sound of the Houston Chamber Choir' on the project.[6] James Manheim of AllMusic writes 'The album presents all of Duruflé's choral music, which fits conveniently on one CD, and it offers both distinctive performances and really superb recording of an impressive organ.'.[7] In its 2019 Year in Review, AllMusic awarded the project as one of the Favorite Classical Vocal Albums of the year with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.[8]

Track listing

All compositions by Maurice Duruflé

  1. Messe "Cum Jubilo" pour choeur de barytons et orgue, Op. 11: I. Kyrie - 3:45
  2. Messe "Cum Jubilo" pour choeur de barytons et orgue, Op. 11: II. Gloria - 6:13
  3. Messe "Cum Jubilo" pour choeur de barytons et orgue, Op. 11: III. Sanctus - 3:53
  4. Messe "Cum Jubilo" pour choeur de barytons et orgue, Op. 11: IV. Benedictus - 2:00
  5. Messe "Cum Jubilo" pour choeur de barytons et orgue, Op. 11: V. Agnus Dei - 4:04
  6. Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens pour choeur a cappella, Op. 10: I. Ubi caritas - 2:49
  7. Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens pour choeur a cappella, Op. 10: II. Tota pulchra es - 2:06
  8. Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens pour choeur a cappella, Op. 10: III. Tu es petrus - 1:02
  9. Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens pour choeur a cappella, Op. 10: IV. Tantum ergo - 2:39
  10. Notre Père pour choeur a cappella - 1:30
  11. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: I. Introit - 3:32
  12. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: II. Kyrie - 3:47
  13. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: III. Domine Jesu Christe - 8:35
  14. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: IV. Sanctus & Benedictus - 3:06
  15. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: V. Pie Jesu - 3:15
  16. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: VI: Agnus Dei - 3:48
  17. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: VII: Lux aeterna - 4:14
  18. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: VIII: Libera me - 5:34
  19. Requiem pour soli, choeurs et orgue, Op. 9: IX: In Paradisum - 2:47

Total Run Time - 68:42

Personnel

Adapted from Discogs.com [9]


Musicians

  • Maurice Duruflé - Composer
  • Robert Simpson - Conductor
  • Ken Cowan - Organist
  • Eduardo Tercero - Baritone Soloist (Tracks 2 & 4)
  • Cecilia Duarte - Mezzo Soprano Soloist (Track 15)
  • Norman Fischer - Cellist (Track 15)

Production

  • Blanton Alspaugh - Producer
  • John Newton - Engineer
  • Carl R. Cunningham - Liner Notes


Chorus Members

  • Soprano - Briana Kerner, Daniela D'Ingiullo, Elizabeth Tait, Kammi Estelle, Kelli Lawless, Stacey Franklin, Stephanie Handal
  • Alto - Clipper Hamrick, Jennifer Crippen, Lauren Pastorek, Marianna Parnas-Simpson, Monica Isomura, Ryan Stickney
  • Tenor - Alphonso Seals, Jack Byrom, Jeffrey Ragsdale, L. Wayne Ashley
  • Bass - Casey Carruth, Jeffrey Van Hal, Joshua Wilson, Patrick Schneider, Rameen Chaharbaghi, Randolph Wagner


References
  1. "Duruflé: Complete Choral Works". Signum Classics. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. "62nd Annual Grammy Awards". GRAMMY.com. January 26, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  3. Messman, Lauren (January 26, 2020). "2020 Grammy Winners: The Complete List". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. "Houston Chamber Choir Past Events". houstonchamberchoir.org. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  5. "Houston Chamber Choir's 'Duruflé: Complete Choral Works' receives Grammy nomination for 'Best Choral Performance'". Houston Chronicle. November 25, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  6. Rochester, Mark. "Review Duruflé: Complete Choral Works". Gramophone. gramophone.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  7. Manheim, James. "AllMusic Review by James Manheim". AllMusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  8. "AllMusic 2019 Year in Review". AllMusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  9. "Houston Chamber Choir, Ken Cowan, Robert Simpson (9) – Duruflé: Complete Choral Works | Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
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