Description
About the album
From the twelfth century (Saint Hildegard) to the twenty-first, the voices of The Gesualdo Six weave a meditative reflection around the ancient Office of Compline in a moving sequence of music from fourteen composers.
Since the fourth century, the service of Compline has marked the end of the day, ushering in the darkness of the night. Much of the music here is inspired by this ancient service. The first half of the album features a selection of atmospheric works that relate to the transition between light and darkness. Then there is a turning point; the light returns, birds sing, and flowers bloom once more.
Track list
Side 1
- Te lucis ante terminum I Thomas Tallis (c.1505 – 1585)
- Illumina faciem tuam Carlo Gesualdo (c.1561 – 1613)
- Look down, O Lord Jonathan Seers (b.1954)
- Phos hilaron Owain Park (b.1993)
- Fading Joanna Marsh (b.1970)
- Lullaby “My sweet little baby” William Byrd (1539/40 – 1623)
- Marjal aega magada Veljo Tormis (1930 – 2017)
- Media vita Nicolas Gombert (c.1495 – c.1560)
Side 2
- Ad te clamamus Christopher Tye (c.1505 – before 15 March 1573)
- O Ecclesia Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179)
- Versa est in luctum Alonso Lobo (1555 – 1617)
- Potrò viver io più se senza luce Luca Marenzio (1553/4 – 1599)
- My heart is like a singing bird Sarah Rimkus (b.1990)
- O little rose, O dark rose Gerda Blok-Wilson (b.1955)
