In "Astralis," Wolfgang Rihm instructs the choir to sing "as quietly and slowly as possible," which is considered a difficult task even for top vocal ensembles.
Composer Biography
Wolfgang Rihm, the composer, was an early-maturing artist who composed the "Fragmenta Passionis" at just 16 years old.
Performer Biography
The RIAS Kammerchor, founded in 1948, played a crucial role in the revival of Berlin's musical life after World War II.
Composition History
The two Passion works on this album, "Fragmenta Passionis" and "Sieben Passionstexte," were composed nearly 40 years apart.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolfgang Rihm's choral music is characterized by its expressive and diverse treatment of the human voice, while also reflecting on traditional musical forms.
Recording & Production
This album was released to celebrate the 60th birthday of the composer Wolfgang Rihm.
Compositional Technique
The distribution of voices in Wolfgang Rihm's "Sieben Passionstexte" is similar to that of Palestrina's famous "Missa Papae Marcelli," linking it to older masterworks.
You might also enjoy...
Elgar: Part-Songs
Britten: Sacred and Profane
Brahms: Choral Works
Brahms : Lieder & Romanzen - Secular Choruses
Silent Starlight
Somers, H.: The Glorious Sounds of Somers
Rorem: Letters from Paris, In Time of Pestilence, Give All to Love & Missa Brevis
Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes & Evening Songs
Weir: Storm
Todd: Lux et Veritas - Music for Peace and Reflection
Max Reger: Das Werk für Männerchor Vol. 2 (Max Reger: The works for men's choir, Vol. 2)
