Passage 138 B.C. - A.D. 1611

by Empire Brass

Overview

Many people do not realize that the major and minor keys are but vestiges of a system of eight modes devised by the ancient Greeks. The composition of music in the West was dominated by this system for 1100 years, from circa 400 C.E. to 1500 C.E., although it originated earlier and lasted longer in some places. On this disc, Empire Brass Quintet explores modal music wiht the aid of two vocalists, a guitarist, a bassist, a synthesizer player and a percussionist. Since there is a deep connection between brass instruments and fanfares and another connection between fanfares and the Middle Ages (think jousting), the album's concept, eclectic as it is, actually works. Although Gregorian chant and Hildegard von Bingen put in an appearance, this is not the stereotypical collection of soothing yet depressing chants. This music is played faster than that and carries a high drama, as on "De Profundis (From the Depths)," which features a martial percussion track and equally high-colored brass. You'd think with the synthesizer and the bass and the soft-focus recording that we were in danger of new age blandness here, but things never come to that. This piece could almost be an anthem at the Olympics. Some of the tracks are a bit overly diffuse and mild, but still interesting if you love ancient music. Even if it's not completely successful, experiments like this one should be encouraged. ~ Kurt Keefner

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/1994
Label:	Telarc Distribution
UPC:	0089408035524
Rank:	137736

Tracks

1. Haec Dies
2. Misc. instrumental Pieces associated with Hildegard recordings~Spiritual Dance
3. Minimal
4. Sibley Sanctus Lydian
5. De profundis
6. Hupfer Tanz
7. Instrumental
8. Si dolce non son¿¿, madrigal for 3 voices, S. 210
9. Factus est repente, communio
10. Sun Credo
11. Helmo og Nykken (Scandanavian chant)
12. First Delphic Hymn to Apollo
13. Dilectus meus descendit, motet for 5 voices (from Motets Book IV from Canticis canticorum)
14. Peccantem me quotidie, motet for 5 voices, W. 8/36
15. O clarissima mater, response~Arr "Lydian" for vocal & trumpet
16. The Melancholy of Departure

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Empire Brass   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Douglas Lunn   Guitar (Bass)
Peter Maunu   Guitar
Kurt Wortman   Percussion
David Goldblatt   Synthesizer
Ken Amis   Tuba
Luiz Garcia   French Horn,Horn
Laurie Monahan   Mezzo-Soprano (Vocal),Vocals
Eric Ruske   French Horn
Douglas Wright   Trombone,Tenor (Vocal)
Rolf Smedvig   Trumpet
Michael Collver   Counter Tenor (Vocal),Vocals
Kenneth Amis   Tuba

Technical Credits

Rolf Smedvig   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes
Elaine Martone   Producer
Jack Renner   Assistant Engineer
Robert Woods   Executive Producer
Kurt Wortman   Producer,Arranger
Scott Burgess   Assistant
Carlo Gesualdo   Composer
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina   Composer
Susan Cybulski   Cover Design
Anilda Carrasquillo   Artwork
Francesco Landini   Composer
Gregorian Chant   Composer
Stephan Krause   Engineer
Peter Maxwell Davies   Arranger
Anonymous Composer   Composer
Eric Ruske   Arranger
Mark Isham   Arranger,Composer
Erica Brenner   Production Assistant
Michael Bishop   Engineer