Pure living light

ISBN-13: 9780193524286 / Angielski

David Bednall

Opis

for SATB and organ This radiant anthem explores the theme of light, with luminescent harmonies, a virtuosic organ part, and soaring vocal lines. The text is by Dr Marcus Tomalin, after Dante's Paradiso, and Bednall's word painting is highly effective. A compelling climax as the singers tell of the 'pure living light shining' falls away to a powerful unaccompanied moment, before the organ picks up a motif and develops it in a majestic interlude. This is a highly rewarding anthem for performer and audience alike. Pure Living Light was recorded by The Epiphoni Consort on the CD David Bednall: Sudden Light (Delphian, DCD34189).

Recenzje

A vivid text by Marcus Tomalin (after Dante's 'Paradiso') has generated a suitably striking choral response from David Bednall. After a soft start, Pure Living Light goes off like a box of fireworks. A more settled central section leads back to a fine climax to words reminiscent of the end of Nunc Dimittis. The final piano phrases are nicely judged, and the whole piece benefits from a very colourful organ part.

O autorze

David Bednall is one of the leading choral composers of his generation. He has an extensive freelance playing and conducting career, and is Organist of The University of Bristol, Sub-organist at Bristol Cathedral, and conducts The University Singers. He won prizes in Improvisation and Performance at the examination for FRCO, and has improvised on live radio, and performed extensively in the UK and abroad. He appeared as stunt-organist on 'Dr Who. He is most prominent as a composer, and recordings of his works have been extremely well received. A number of his works have been broadcast on radio, and he has been commissioned by St Paul's Cathedral, and The Queen's College, Oxford. His 40-part motet Lux orta est iusto closed the Bristol Proms 2015 and December 2018 saw the premiere of Make We Merry for upper voices, brass, and organ, commissioned by Benenden and the recording of this has been released on Regent Records.