Customer Rating: 
Summary: A couple of fine works in this vocal collection, but with quite a bit of dead weight
Comment: Paul Hillier has long supported the music of Estonian composer Arvo Part. Hillier sang with the Hilliard Ensemble on some of the early ECM recordings of Part's vocal works, wrote a book on Part for Oxford University Press, and over the last few years has continued to spread Part's music with his new ensemble Theatre of Voices. This is the second recording on Harmonia Mundi with Hillier leading the Theatre of Voices in both a capella works and pieces combining voice and organ.
There was quite a bit that I didn't like about this disc. "De Profundis" and "Summa" have already appeared on ECM. Generally the ECM recordings can be seen as definitive as the composer is involved in their production. The a capella pieces here are generally disappointing. "And one of the Pharisees...", a setting of the moving New Testament parable beginning with Luke 7:36, suffers from poor scoring and the text is completely unintelligible. "Solfeggio" is unusual in being a vocal work without any programmatic basis, unlike the overtly Christian music which is the hallmark of Part's writing, but it's not a terribly substantial piece. The "Magnificat Antiphones", seven German-language settings of praises of Christ, are the most diverse of the a capella works, but they don't draw me back. Frankly, I think Part's only success in the a capella vein has been the massive Arvo Part: Kanon Pokajanen of 1999, but that goes between mere art music to a full-fledged setting for liturgical use.
But in a couple of the pieces for chorus and organ, magic happens. In "The Beatitudes" the organ plays only a single note for minutes at a time, a pedal point under the chorus' tintinnabuli tones, but one is very grateful for the variety it provides. The "Missa Sillabica" is, in my opinion, Part's best setting of a Western liturgical text. The opening "Kyrie", with its slow enunciation and great silences, make one expect a very stripped-down work indeed. But with the following "Gloria" and all subsequent movement, the organ and chorus provide an extremely charming dance-like rhythm, with (as the title of the work suggests) very clear enunciation.
This disc I would recommend only for the Part collector, who will certainly find at least "Missa Sillabica" compelling. Those new to his music should seek out any of the ECM discs first.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a great combination, part and hilliard
Comment: i purchased this CD recently and was a bit worried. i enjoy part and hillard, but the length of the pieces was often so short. i really enjoy it when part writes long, epic pieces and the vocal work really explores all types of music. instead, what i found was a collection of many small gems, each of which combine to form the larger work i was looking for. i'm not particularily religious, but i find the deep spiritualism in part's work to be profound and soothing. this disc is no exception, as part and hillaird explore religion, theology and philosophy through music and voice.
this CD is well arranged and orchestrated, and ranks among the best of any of part's works. i've been leary of hearing part work outside of the ECM new series of recordings, but i'm happy i explored. few pairings work as well as hillaird and part, i'm thankful they share their work.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Profound
Comment: I picked up this wonderful gem on a whim. As sacristan for my Jesuit university campus ministry, I was looking for good and movintg religious music. This surpasses anything being marketed as "liturgical" music for churches.Part creates music that is beatiful, moving and profound. It transported me to another world; it is a deeply moving experience. Some of these tracks have already become my favorite works of musical art as well as meditative prayers.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Power and Grace
Comment: Hillier's Theatre of Voices gives an absolutely wonderful rendering of Pärt's work. The music is amazing, recalling medieval choral music as well as contemporary ideas in musical composition. Pärt manages to touch on a wide range of feeling throughout all of these compositions, conveying emotion while maintaining the kind of austerity of sound found in medieval chant. Ultimately, the CD provides a moving and enjoyable listening experience. I would recommend it to both seasoned fans of choral music and neophytes alike.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rich, lovely, unmatched music
Comment: This music is gorgeous, whether you think you like choral music or not.The first time I heard Arvo Part, I was browsing in a music store and stopped to listen with a pair of crummy headphones. The sounds and tone drew me into another world, one made lovely by the rich and carefully-worked composition of a master.
The recording is perfect. The music is like nothing else I've heard, more deeply-felt and inspiring than anything I'm familiar with. I would not call myself a fan of choruses, but Part's work is extraordinary.
