| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
VOCHOR |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
VCDMCD1002 |
| UPC
NUMBER: |
N/A |
| NUMBER
OF DISCS: |
2 |
| RUNNING
TIME: |
1:09:48;
1:13:48 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
1999 |
| CD
RELEASE
DATE: |
1999 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
RODNEY
WYNKOOP |
| ORCHESTRA: |
DUKE
UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
DUKE
UNIVERSITY
CHAPEL CHOIR |
| SOPRANO: |
PENELOPE
JENSEN |
| MEZZO
SOPRANO: |
JAN
WILSON |
| TENOR: |
KARL
DENT |
| BARITONE: |
GRANT
YOUNGBLOOD |
|
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| AUDIO SAMPLES |
HIGHLIGHTS |
OTHER
RELEASES |
NONE |
NONE |
NONE
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DISC
ONE
PART I
1. SYMPHONY [3:30]
2. RECITATIVE (tenor Comfort ye my people
[3:03]
3. AIR (tenor) Every valley shall be
exalted [3:23]
4. CHORUS And the glory of the Lord shall
be revealed [2:47]
5. RECITATIVE (baritone) Thus saith the
Lord of Hosrs [1 :30]
6. AIR (baritone) But who may abide the
day of his coming [3:37]
7. CHORUS And he shall purify the sons of
Levi [2:21]
8. RECITATIVE (mezzo soprano) Behold, a
virgin shall conceive [0:34]
9. AIR (mezzo soprano) and CHORUS O thou
that tellesr good tidings to
Zion [5:02]
10. RECITATIVE (baritone) For behold,
darkness shall cover the earth
[2:16]
11. AIR (baritone) The people that walked
in darkness [3:20]
12. CHORUS For unto us a child is born
[3:54]
13. PIFA (pastoral symphony) [3:38]
14. RECITATIVE (soprano) There were
shepherds abiding in the field
[1:55]
15. CHORUS Glory to God in the highest
[1:55]
16. AIR (soprano) Rejoice greatly, O
daughter of Zion [4:57]
17. RECITATIVE (mezzo soprano) Then shall
the eyes of the blind be
opened [0:36]
18. AIR (mezzo soprano and soprano) He
shall feed his flock like a
shepherd [5:44]
19. CHORUS His yoke is easy [2:29]
PART II
20. CHORUS Behold the Lamb of God [3:28]
21. AIR (mezzo soprano) He was despised
and rejected of men [9:49]
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DISC
TWO
1. CHORUS
Surely he hath borne our griefs [1:48]
2. CHORUS And with his stripes we are
healed [1:40]
3. CHORUS All we, like sheep, have gone
astray [4:15]
4 RECITATIVE (tenor) All they that see him
laugh him to scorn [0:44]
5. CHORUS I-Ie trusted in God that he
would deliver him [2:26]
6. RECITATIVE (tenor) Thy rebuke hath
broken his heart [1 :50]
7. AIR (tenor) Behold, and see [1:43]
8 RECITATIVE (tenor) He was cut off out of
the land of the living [0:19]
9. AIR (tenor) But thou didst not leave
his soul in hell [2:07]
10. CHORUS Lift up your heads [2:56]
1l. RECITATIVE (tenor) Unto which of the
angels said he at any time
[0:17]
12. CHORUS Let all the angels of God
worship him [1:22]
13. AIR (soprano) Thou art gone up on high
[3:14]
14. CHORUS The Lord gave the word [1 :00]
15. AIR (soprano) How beautiful are the
feet [2:36]
16. CHORUS Their sound is gone out into
all lands [1:21]
17. AIR (baritone) Why do the nations so
furiously rage [2:46]
18. CHORUS Let us break their bonds
asunder [1:49]
19. RECITATIVE (tenor) He that dwellerh in
heaven [0:16]
20. AIR (tenor) Thou shalt break them with
a rod of iron [1 :59]
21. CHORUS Hallelujah [3:39]
PART III
22 AIR (soprano) I know that my Redeemer
liveth [6:44]
23. CHORUS Since by man came death [2:24]
24. RECITATIVE (baritone) Behold, I tell
you a mystery [0:40]
25. AIR (baritone) The trumpet shall sound
[8:34]
26. RECITATIVE (mezzo soprano) Then shall
be brought to pass [0:25]
27. DUET (mezzo soprano & tenor)
86 CHORUS O death, where is thy sting?
[3:12]
28. AIR (soprano) If God be For us [4:51]
29. CHORUS Worthy is the Lamb that was
slain [6:51]
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SITE RATING:
7/10
SITE
REVIEW:
This 1999 digital recording, made from a
series of live
performances
by Duke University, under the baton of Rodney
Wynkoop, is one of the
finest non-professional Messiah's
I've heard. Crisp sonics, finely
finessed playing and
singing, and soloists who are more than
serviceable, all blend to
create
a very pleasant listening experience.
And although I try to
draw the line at private Messiah releases
(especially community choirs,
public schools, and church releases), I enjoy
seeking out these rare
recordings for gems such as this one. The
Duke
University Chapel Choir
(who, as of this
writing is still under the direction of Dr.
Wynkoop) sound quite smooth
and unified for an 150-voice chorus, with
clear diction, and precise
attacks - they struggle occasionally with
unified melismas and pure
tone in the sopranos, but these are minor
infractions, they shine on
many of the choruses, with especially
thrilling readings of "For
Unto Us A Child Is Born" and "Glory To God".
The soloists are all
quite fine - with special mention going to
baritone Grant Youngblood,
with his rich tessitura and commanding
presence; tenor Karl Dent is
also quite forceful, leaning toward the
operatic, (true of all the
soloists), and lacking a sense of tenderness
during some of the arias.
Mezzo soprano Jan Wilson is the weak
link here, with a more
pushed sound and occasional unsteadiness in
pitch. Soprano Penelope
Jensen also didn't quite convince me with her
performance, sounding
somewhat thin and strained in her upper
register, but otherwise pitch
perfect on "Rejoice Greatly" and other softer
moments. The Duke
University Chapel Orchestra are very strong,
with lovely tone, and
assured, rich playing throughout. Wynkoop's
direction is very sure, not
entirely in the New Baroque tradition, but
reveling in the richer
moments, and giving needed propulsion to other
moments. Expertly
recorded and mixed, this Messiah sounds clean
and polished, and stands
as one of the best collegiate Messiah's.
Worth
seeking out for collectors.
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