Szymon Kuran - Requiem [FLAC, 204 mb]

As far as I know I'm the first to upload this to the net. A stunning piece by polish composer on emigration in Iceland, Szymon Kuran, who died tragically in 2005, being only fifty years old. Requiem was composed in Iceland from 1994 to 2000 in memory of Brynhildur Sigurdardóttir, who died of cancer in 1994. The work is performed by a child singing solo, three choirs of boys, women and men, a violin, flute, guitar, string ensemble and percussion. The text of Requiem is sung in Latin with the exception of a prayer (nr. 11 Oratio), sung in Polish. There are also two more little pieces before Requiem: Post mortem and Um Nottina. All the pieces are modest and stunningly beautiful. Requiem has slightly 'ancient', sometimes even 'tribal' atmosphere, which might be a bit surprising at first listen. Performance by: Collegium Musicum Universitas Varsaviensis, Gregorianum choir, G.Bacewicz Orchestra of PSM, conducted by Andrzej Borzym.

I 1. Post Mortem
II 2. Um Nóttina
III Requiem:
3. Requiem
4. Kyrie
5. Dies Irae
6. Oratio I
7. Rex Tremendae
8. Confutatis
9. Lacrimosa
10. Offertorium
11. Sanctus - Benedictus
12. Angus Dei
13. Oratio II
14. Lux Aeterna

Part I

Part II

Part III

As far as I know this record is out of the print, so no "buy" link this time.

Let's begin

It struck me that though there are some blogs dedicated to classical music, there is hardly any which publishes links to early and/or modern choral music. This, combined with lack of possibility to download recordings of choral music from these periods, which I believe to be best way of promoting music, and also a mean of trying music before buying it, made me decide to set up a blog dedicated to this kind of music. A kind of music that I'm deeply in love with. This site is meant to publish my 'premiere uploads' from CDs I bought/am going to buy, but also to copypaste some links to some outstanding choral performances that might not get all desired attention on the sites they were originally posted to. There is also a great possiblity that I will post some non-choral music here, if I decide that it's brilliant and obscure enough to deserve a mention here. Regards, JJ