English composer John Casken's The Dream of the Rood (2008) sets texts from the Anglo-Saxon poem of the same name, telling the story of the crucifixion. Instrumental ensemble Asko|Schönberg and vocal quartet the Hilliard Ensemble also perform Casken's arrangement of Viderunt omnes by Pérotin, an extremely early example of four-part polyphony dating from the late 12th century. The Hilliard Ensemble sing several more of the very early vocal pieces for which they are particularly acclaimed – this was one of their last recordings before they disbanded in 2014.
Featuring
Clark Rundell
Hilliard Ensemble
Asko|Schönberg
John Casken
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Composition History
John Casken's work The Dream of the Rood was commissioned by The Hilliard Ensemble and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
Critical Reception
John Casken's The Dream of the Rood won a British Composer Award in the Vocal Category in 2009.
Composer Biography
John Casken studied at the University of Birmingham and the Academy of Music in Warsaw, forming a close association with Witold Lutosławski, a renowned Polish composer.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, The Netherlands, on October 9, 2014.
Composer's Artistic Vision
John Casken, the composer of The Dream of the Rood, is often influenced by the landscape, skies, and poetry of Northumberland, where he lives.
Performer Biography
The Hilliard Ensemble, the vocal group on this album, gave their farewell performance in December 2014 after more than forty years of concert giving and recording.
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