100 Best Sacred Works

• Booklet languages: English
• Time: 448:36
• Release Date: 2007

Review

Any recording that proclaims its contents as the 100 best sacred works is going to attract potshots, but the fact is that this six-disc set might be a useful thing for churches and the like to have on hand. The set takes on the ambitious task of assembling pieces from the era of plainchant up to the present day; the most recent pieces come from the widely performed The Armed Man: A Mass for Piece, composed by Britain's Karl Jenkins and based on the Renaissance tradition of masses based on the song L'homme armé (The Armed Man). There are several things buyers should know. Especially considering the British origins of the set, the Renaissance and Medieval eras are underrepresented, and the Romantics overrepresented with two full discs, one devoted to French music and the other to "Romantic Sacred Masterpieces." The perorations of Elgar and Karg-Elert notwithstanding, the nineteenth century was not a high-water mark for sacred music. The "Modern Sacred Favorites" on disc 6 are conservative in orientation, with Barber, Rutter, Lloyd Webber, Vaughan Williams, Tavener, Pärt, and Górecki represented along with Jenkins; the progressives, who are none too progressive, are Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein. Non-Christian forms of spirituality are not included at all. The selection of pieces is intelligent, resisting the temptation to squeeze in every hit and instead programming lesser-known works from time to time if they fit the sequence of events. Best of all are the performances, which draw from various segments of the EMI catalog. They come from between the early '60s and the 2000s, with most from the 1970s and 1980s, and the remastering of such a variety of sound sources is reasonable. The listener receives not only a collection of attitudes toward sacred music but also a group of diverse performer approaches to the problem of performing sacred music. Disc 1, for example, is neatly divided between the stark sounds of the Hilliard Ensemble and the quiet, tradition-encrusted performances of English church choirs. Whatever debates it may start, this is an undeniably useful box set. ~ James Manheim, All Music Guide

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Gregorian Chant	Sub tuum praesidium, antiphon in mode 7	1:03
Gregorio Allegri	Miserere mei Deus (Psalm 51), motet for chorus	5:47
John Dunstable	Veni Sancte Spiritus, isorhythmic motet for 4 voices, MB 32	6:26
Thomas Tallis	O nata lux de lumine, motet (hymn) for 5 voices, P. 209	1:56
John Sheppard	Verbum caro factum est, responsory motet for 6 voices	6:44
Giovanni Gabrieli	Buccinate in neomenia tuba, motet for 19 voices	4:20
Tomás Luis de Victoria	O Magnum Mysterium, motet for 4 voices	4:10
William Byrd	Ave verum corpus (also anthem: "O Lord, God of Israel"), motet for 4 voices (SATB)	4:42
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina	Tu es Petrus, motet for 7 voices (from Motets Book I)	3:59
Guillaume Dufay	Missa L'Homme armé, for 4 voices (Kyrie)	4:10
Orlande de Lassus	Missa Bell' Amfirit'altera, for 8 voices, H. viii/55 (Gloria)	4:19
Christopher Tye	Mass "Euge Bone" for 6 voices (Credo)	5:32
Heinrich Isaac	Missa Paschalis (i), mass for 4 voices (Sanctus)	4:28
William Byrd	Mass for 4 Voices (SATB) (Agnus Dei)	3:54
Josquin Desprez	Absalon, Fili Mi, motet for 4 parts (poss. spurious)	4:28
Orlando Gibbons	Hosanna to the son of David, anthem for 6 voices	3:13
Thomas Tallis	Spem in Alium (also set as "Sing and glorify"), motet for 40 voices, P. 299	10:23
Antonio Vivaldi	Gloria, for 3 solo voices, chorus, trumpet, oboe, violin (ad lib), 2 violas, 2 cellos, strings & continuo in D major, RV 589 (Gloria in excelsis Deo)	2:29
Antonio Vivaldi	Gloria, for 3 solo voices, chorus, trumpet, oboe, violin (ad lib), 2 violas, 2 cellos, strings & continuo in D major, RV 589 (Laudamus te)	2:28
Johann Sebastian Bach	Magnificat, for 5 voices, 5-part chorus, orchestra & continuo in D major, BWV 243 (BC E14) (Magnificat anima mea)	3:02
George Frederick Handel	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56 (For unto us a child is born)	4:20
Johann Sebastian Bach	Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7) (Bereite dich, Zion)	5:33
George Frederick Handel	Zadok the Priest, coronation anthem No. 1 for chorus & orchestra, HWV 258	5:20
Johann Sebastian Bach	Mass in B minor, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, BWV 232 (BC E1) (Cum Sancto Spiritu)	4:25
Johann Sebastian Bach	Mass in B minor, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, BWV 232 (BC E1) (Et incarnatus est)	4:30
Johann Sebastian Bach	O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde gross, chorale prelude for organ (Orgel-Büchlein No. 24), BWV 622 (BC K51)	5:25
Johann Sebastian Bach	Cantata No. 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 140 (BC A166) (Zion hört die Wächter singen)	4:47
Johann Sebastian Bach	St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b) (Ebarme dich, mein Gott)	6:24
Johann Sebastian Bach	Cantata No. 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," BWV 147 (BC A174) (Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, joy of man's desiring))	3:31
Henry Purcell	Thou know'st, Lord (2nd setting), anthem for chorus, slidetrumpets & organ, Z. 58c	2:22
Henry Purcell	Hear my prayer, O Lord, anthem for chorus, violins & continuo, Z. 15 (unfinished)	2:14
Johann Sebastian Bach	St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b) (O sacred head, sore wounded (Passion Chorale))	2:46
Antonio Lotti	Crucifixus a 8 Voix	3:43
George Frederick Handel	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56 (I know that my redeemer liveth)	6:42
George Frederick Handel	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56 (Hallelujah Chorus)	4:01
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Requiem for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, K. 626 (Introit. Requiem aeternam)	4:27
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Requiem for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, K. 626 (Kyrie)	2:35
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Requiem for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, K. 626 (Lacrimosa dies illa)	2:58
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Vesperae solennes de confessore for soloists, chorus & orchestra, K. 339 (Laudate Dominum)	5:30
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Regina coeli, antiphon for soprano, chorus & orchestra, K. 127 (Regina coeli)	4:04
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Mass No. 17 for soloists, chorus & orchestra in C minor (fragment, "Great Mass"), K. 427 (K. 417a) (Laudamus te)	4:57
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Mass No. 15 for vocal soloists, chorus & orchestra in C major ("Coronation"), K. 317 (Benedictus)	3:16
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Exsultate, jubilate, motet for soprano & orchestra, K. 165 (K. 158a) (Alleluia)	2:56
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Ave verum Corpus, motet for chorus, strings & organ, K. 618	3:27
Franz Joseph Haydn	Die Schöpfung (The Creation), oratorio, H. 21/2 (With verdure clad)	4:54
Franz Joseph Haydn	Die Schöpfung (The Creation), oratorio, H. 21/2 (The heavens are telling)	3:37
Franz Joseph Haydn	Mass for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in D minor ("Lord Nelson"), H. 22/11 (Kyrie)	4:25
Franz Joseph Haydn	Mass for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in D minor ("Lord Nelson"), H. 22/11 (Gloria in excelsis Deo)	3:26
Ludwig van Beethoven	Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in C major, Op. 86 (Kyrie)	5:34
Ludwig van Beethoven	Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur ("Himmel ruhmen des ewigen Ehre"), song for voice & piano, Op. 48/4	2:31
Ludwig van Beethoven	Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in D major ("Missa Solemnis"), Op. 123 (Gloria)	17:12
Marc-Antoine Charpentier	Te Deum, motet for 8 voices, chorus & orchestra, H. 146 (Prelude)	1:47
Charles Gounod	Ave Maria, for voice & piano (after Bach's Prelude No. 1 from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1)	3:14
Charles Gounod	Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile for soloists, chorus, orchestra & organ in G major (Credo - opening)	3:50
Charles Gounod	Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile for soloists, chorus, orchestra & organ in G major (Sanctus)	5:33
Hector Berlioz	L' Enfance du Christ, oratorio for soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, 3 basses, chorus & orchetsra ("trilogie sacrée") H. 130 (Op. 25) (The Shepherds' Farewell)	4:14
Hector Berlioz	Te Deum, for tenor, 3 choruses, brass bands, organ & orchestra, H. 118 (Op. 22) (Tu, Christe, Rex gloriae)	5:38
Gabriel Fauré	Requiem, for 2 solo voices, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 48 (Pie Jesu)	3:29
Maurice Duruflé	Ubi caritas, motet for chorus, Op. 10/1	2:40
Gabriel Fauré	Cantique de Jean Racine, for 4-part chorus & organ (or orchestra), Op. 11	5:51
César Franck	Panis angelicus for tenor, organ, harp, cello & bass	4:56
Francis Poulenc	Gloria, for soprano, chorus & orchestra, FP 177 (Laudamus te)	3:00
Francis Poulenc	Vinea mea electa, motet for chorus (4 motets pour un temps de pénitence), FP 97/2	3:49
Léon Boëllmann	Suite Gothique, for organ, Op. 25 (Prière à Notre-Dame)	4:08
Olivier Messiaen	O sacrum convivium!, for voices, I/18	5:10
Maurice Duruflé	Requiem, for orchestra, organ & chorus; for organ & chorus; for small ensemble, organ & chorus, Op. 9 (3 versions) (Sanctus)	3:25
Maurice Duruflé	Requiem, for orchestra, organ & chorus; for organ & chorus; for small ensemble, organ & chorus, Op. 9 (3 versions) (Libera me)	5:43
Gabriel Fauré	Requiem, for 2 solo voices, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 48 (In Paradisum)	3:43
Johann Nepomuk Hummel	Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra No.2 in E flat major, Op. 80 (Sanctus)	1:33
Felix Mendelssohn	Elijah (Elias), oratorio, Op. 70 (O rest in the Lord)	3:43
Felix Mendelssohn	Elijah (Elias), oratorio, Op. 70 (And then shall your light break forth)	3:19
Gioachino Rossini	Stabat mater for 2 sopranos, tenor, bass, chorus & orchestra (Cujus animam)	6:59
Franz Schubert	Psalm 23 ("Gott ist mein Hirt"), for female voices & piano, D. 706 (Op. posth. 132)	4:58
Franz Schubert	Deutsche Messe (German Mass), for mixed chorus, wind ensemble & organ, D. 872 (Heilig, heilig, heilig)	2:30
Franz Schubert	Ellens Gesang III ("Ave Maria"), song for voice & piano, D. 839 (Op. 52/6)	4:26
Edward Elgar	Ave verum, motet for chorus, Op. 2/1	2:35
Sigfrid Karg-Elert	Nun danket alle Gott, marche triomphale (chorale improvisation) for organ (& brass ad lib), Op. 65/59	3:36
Anton Bruckner	Ave Maria (II), motet for chorus in F major, WAB 6	3:11
Henry Balfour Gardiner	Evening Hymn for chorus & organ	6:06
Giuseppe Verdi	Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem) (Recordare)	4:21
Giuseppe Verdi	Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem) (Ingemisco)	3:47
Giuseppe Verdi	Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem) (Lux aeterna)	6:52
Johannes Brahms	Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem), for soprano, baritone, chorus & orchestra, Op. 45 (Wie lieblich)	6:10
Giacomo Puccini	Mass for tenor, baritone, bass, chorus & orchestra in A flat major ("Messa di gloria") (Gloria in excelsis Deo - In terra pax - Laudamus te)	4:36
Hubert Parry	I Was Glad (Psalm 122), anthem for chorus & organ (or orchestra)	6:47
Karl Jenkins	The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Agnus Dei)	3:40
Igor Stravinsky	Ave Maria, for chorus a cappella (after Bogoroditse D'vo)	1:58
Leonard Bernstein	Chichester Psalms, for boy soloist, chorus & orchestra (1. Maestoso ma energico - Allegro molto)	3:50
Andrew Lloyd Webber	Requiem for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Pie Jesu)	2:51
Robert Prizeman	Voca Me	4:50
Tolga Kashif	Ave Maria	4:11
Ralph Vaughan Williams	Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor (Kyrie)	3:58
Henryk Mikolaj Górecki	Totus Tuus, for chorus, Op. 60	8:56
Arvo Pärt	Magnificat, for chorus	6:22
Sergey Rachmaninov	Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37 (Ave Maria)	2:59
John Tavener	Song for Athene, for chorus	6:12
Geoffrey Burgon	Nunc dimittis for voice, trumpet & strings	2:44
John Rutter	Requiem for chorus & orchestra (Requiem aeternam)	5:39
Samuel Barber	Agnus Dei, for chorus (arr. from 2nd mvt. of String Quartet), Op. 11	7:45
Karl Jenkins	The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Benedictus)	7:37