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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0028944536928 Label: ECM New Series Manufacturer: ECM New Series Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: ECM New Series Release Date: September 05, 1994 Studio: ECM New Series Sales Rank: 6907
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Amazon.co.uk Review: "What is this music?" Fundamentally, it's an exploration of what happens when an improvisatory instrumental voice (saxophone) is placed into the world of early vocal music, which has elements of both improvisation and formal structure. In reality, it's an adventure in which the four male voices of the Hilliard Ensemble travel the 14th and 15th-century territory of Morales and Dufay, visit the 12th-century Pérotin and roam even earlier ages of plainchant, accompanied by the always sensitive and tasteful, often astonishing, saxophone improvisations of jazz master Jan Garbarek. Sometimes, these new melodies simply accompany; sometimes they transform the common--a routine minor chord, for instance--into a sublime, indescribable moment. The answer to the above question is easy, but it's different for each listener. --David Vernier
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - What a waste!
I can see how sax fans find this album a revelation but it is a stain on the track record of the Hilliard Ensemble. I can see (kinda) what the involved parties tried to do but it still is painful to listing to it and even with a lot of good will this is simply a waste of money and time. To all those admirers of the Hilliard Ensemble: Don't do it to yourself!
Rating: - nauseating
This takes the cherries out of two cakes and leaves the cakes behind. They are glace cherries. Horribly sweet.
Rating: - The sound of perfection
There are moments in life when you can become speechless,I have always liked the ethos of the ECM label,and in the the vast majority of albums they release hit such a standard that other labels can only dream of,this is aone such album.
Garbarek and the Hilliards are in a stratosphere of their own,this truly stunning album achieves a benchmark even in ECMs high standard.the music is never short of stunning with Garbarek weaving his magic spell with beautiful,gracefull and moving sounds so much ... Read More
Rating: - Beautiful sounds.
The first track on this CD takes my breath away every time I hear it. It really is stunningly beautiful.
However, if you are like the poor unfortunate "music fan" above who has become such a purist that you fail to just sit back and listen to beautiful sounds and melodies (this being after all what music is in its most basic form) then please don't buy this. No, saxaphone and choral music at first sounds like a disaster...but this WORKS. Yes, as one reviewer has already mentioned, some tracks ... Read More
Rating: - It's how music makes you feel that really matters.Officium makes me feel just great!
While driving over the dreamy mountains of Leek and Buxton, I was fretting over whether or not I would get enough time to finish the job of laying a floor for my present demanding customer.I was taking those hairpins like a madman.I nearly skidded off the road and into a ravine hitting a high grass verge,which fortunatly saved my life.The car stalled,all was quiet except for a stiff breeze blowing through the open window and the radio.At that very moment a tone of emense wonderment and beauty, struck my ear, ... Read More
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