Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir & Paul Spicer - South of the Line: Choral Music by John Joubert (2017)
Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir & Paul Spicer - South of the Line: Choral Music by John Joubert
Classical, Choral | WEB FLAC (tracks) & d. booklet | 79:14 min | 300 MB
Label: SOMM Recordings | Tracks: 19 | Rls.date: 2017
Classical, Choral | WEB FLAC (tracks) & d. booklet | 79:14 min | 300 MB
Label: SOMM Recordings | Tracks: 19 | Rls.date: 2017
SOMM’s celebration of John Joubert’s 90th birthday this month brings to the catalogue yet more new riches, this time no less than seven première recordings of his choral music. South of the Line (together with Autumn Rain) was recorded last June at the Birmingham Conservatoire and poignant is the fact that it was commissioned from the composer for the opening of the Adrian Boult Hall and the last music heard there for this recording, before its demolition.
Choirs are at the heart of John Joubert’s music and it is by his choral music that he seems to communicate most directly with audiences. He once commented. ‘Communication is important to me. I want to be understood, enjoyed and used’. It’s perhaps for this reason, this capacity for dramatic articulation of meaning, that his choral music holds such a certain place in the listeners’ hearts. Indeed he has composed choral music throughout his career winning, in 1952, a Novello Anthem competition with O Lorde, the Maker of Al Thing set to a poem by Henry VIII. The lullaby-like There is no Rose (1954) is another work with a firm place in the English choral repertoire, and another setting of an ancient text. Incantation, Pilgrimage Song and Three Portraits as well as Sonnet, This is the Gate of the Lord, Autumn Rain and Be Not Afeard, his most recent work a commission for Novello honouring the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, are all first recordings.
But perhaps the most powerful and extraordinary of all the works on this disc is South of the Line. Commissioned by Ex-Cathedra in 1985 it receives here a searing interpretation by Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir under their conductor, Paul Spicer. Joubert uses texts from five poems by Thomas Hardy who wrote them in response to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the century. The music is an unabashed anti-war statement with a cataclysmic setting of words, consisting of equal parts grief and scathing irony, pitting the choir against a battery of percussion – even the two pianos are essentially treated as drums. The music they evoke from the South African-English John Joubert is a compelling and a powerful indictment against the inhumanity of war.
TRACKLIST
01. O Praise God in His Holiness, Op. 52
02. O Lorde, the Maker of Al Thing, Op. 7b
03. There Is No Rose, Op. 14
04. Incantation, Op. 22: I. I Saw a Staring Virgin
05. Incantation, Op. 22: II. Astrea's Holy Child!
06. Incantation, Op. 22: III. In Pity for Man's Darkening Thought
07. Pilgrimage Song, Op. 169
08. 3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 1, To Mistress Isabel Pennell
09. 3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 2, To Mistress Margery Wentworth
10. 3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 3, To Mistress Margaret Hussey
11. Be Not Afeard, Op. 179
12. Sonnet, Op. 123
13. This Is the Gate of the Lord, Op. 164
14. Autumn Rain, Op. 105
15. South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 1, Embarcation
16. South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 2, A Wife in London
17. South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 3, Drummer Hodge
18. South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 4, The Man He Killed
19. South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 5, A Christmas Ghost Story
PERFORMER: auCDtect Task Manager, ver. 1.6.0 RC1 build 1.6.0.1
Copyright © 2008-2010 y-soft. All rights reserved
ANALYZER: auCDtect: CD records authenticity detector, version 0.8.2
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Copyright © 2004 Alexander Djourik. All rights reserved.
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FILE: 18. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 4, The Man He Killed - Timothy Emberson.flac
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FILE: 17. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 3, Drummer Hodge - Matthew Firkins.flac
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FILE: 16. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 2, A Wife in London - Chloe Salvidge.flac
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FILE: 14. Autumn Rain, Op. 105 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 13. This Is the Gate of the Lord, Op. 164 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 12. Sonnet, Op. 123 - Alexis Cooling.flac
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FILE: 11. Be Not Afeard, Op. 179 - Alexis Cooling.flac
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FILE: 10. 3 Portraits, Op. 97 No. 3, To Mistress Margaret Hussey - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 09. 3 Portraits, Op. 97 No. 2, To Mistress Margery Wentworth - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 08. 3 Portraits, Op. 97 No. 1, To Mistress Isabel Pennell - Chloe Salvidge.flac
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FILE: 07. Pilgrimage Song, Op. 169 - Andrew Randall.flac
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FILE: 06. Incantation, Op. 22 III. In Pity for Man's Darkening Thought - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 05. Incantation, Op. 22 II. Astrea's Holy Child! - Catherine Liggins.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 85%
Signature: 580F050F9F4FA244529FAC11673D2104CF3F418B
FILE: 04. Incantation, Op. 22 I. I Saw a Staring Virgin - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 03. There Is No Rose, Op. 14 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 02. O Lorde, the Maker of Al Thing, Op. 7b - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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FILE: 01. O Praise God in His Holiness, Op. 52 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: A3C001943E7420D62C8A78A3CC6331F4DE28430B
Copyright © 2008-2010 y-soft. All rights reserved
ANALYZER: auCDtect: CD records authenticity detector, version 0.8.2
Copyright © 2004 Oleg Berngardt. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 Alexander Djourik. All rights reserved.
FILE: 19. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 5, A Christmas Ghost Story - Domonkos Csabay.flac
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Signature: 8E3FEBF2CF606689F15761467E192A1C921BDF32
FILE: 18. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 4, The Man He Killed - Timothy Emberson.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 7F74D252534DCC0FC2099E3356E9F9596577C1DB
FILE: 17. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 3, Drummer Hodge - Matthew Firkins.flac
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Signature: F969E4EEB6235D28B351A571AAB55A90CA0547C6
FILE: 16. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 2, A Wife in London - Chloe Salvidge.flac
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Signature: F87D8DAE305A8AB68348AA2B116B3FBBF385139C
FILE: 15. South of the Line, Op. 109 No. 1, Embarcation - Domonkos Csabay.flac
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Signature: E78F0980A2F87C3E59F77D2166D2A85056F2C5BE
FILE: 14. Autumn Rain, Op. 105 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 5FC21BDDB9BC4861ABE6981EC0B4284CB0EE9C2E
FILE: 13. This Is the Gate of the Lord, Op. 164 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 99%
Signature: 6FA37179B1D017D12EEB381986649F7F9341C8E4
FILE: 12. Sonnet, Op. 123 - Alexis Cooling.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 83A05518C0A67086CD88E35231932D80C0C2E85A
FILE: 11. Be Not Afeard, Op. 179 - Alexis Cooling.flac
Size: 19340646 Hash: EFEE5DC88C47EF34385D9192D7E7B1FE Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 3F087BE8C7BE61018879EFF8B15D7303AFE8F8BA
FILE: 10. 3 Portraits, Op. 97 No. 3, To Mistress Margaret Hussey - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: B49F76D6B3BBF2B8B52E88D75E78F79CC922CE21
FILE: 09. 3 Portraits, Op. 97 No. 2, To Mistress Margery Wentworth - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
Size: 13028224 Hash: BB37304F28A0B29756D65BA5168A3E60 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: E1CDDCB3FC257FE59E605E2D217FC9A789994019
FILE: 08. 3 Portraits, Op. 97 No. 1, To Mistress Isabel Pennell - Chloe Salvidge.flac
Size: 16151299 Hash: AB34FAF1BEF539BB633C18696E30F262 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 7E45117D46A5E9730639994CCC11E55E8201BCEF
FILE: 07. Pilgrimage Song, Op. 169 - Andrew Randall.flac
Size: 27274487 Hash: 6972E62FF6B63603E8AF0F222EAE565E Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: FD39F96D2A8145B10D038138D83972CC405542C2
FILE: 06. Incantation, Op. 22 III. In Pity for Man's Darkening Thought - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
Size: 12466005 Hash: 6FB66F0CAF4C4ABF9D4619563D951237 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 92%
Signature: FDA66236EF7D5C63F605D7520F5E2A407F0CA02D
FILE: 05. Incantation, Op. 22 II. Astrea's Holy Child! - Catherine Liggins.flac
Size: 8572497 Hash: E2CC1D31262CCA201AFF1F7E251078E6 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 85%
Signature: 580F050F9F4FA244529FAC11673D2104CF3F418B
FILE: 04. Incantation, Op. 22 I. I Saw a Staring Virgin - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
Size: 12353588 Hash: 02CB688166CF78CA27DF83A8CD5EDBF2 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 94%
Signature: 52B3B50850ED42F2B48627E7CF093C81DFA257CA
FILE: 03. There Is No Rose, Op. 14 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
Size: 9954659 Hash: C5496D31A330F56050EE56ADAE67BC00 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 57DCB0FE2B3ED4C85E2EE3B0E191A16D4EFA2A62
FILE: 02. O Lorde, the Maker of Al Thing, Op. 7b - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
Size: 17421162 Hash: A8A8598F2F2C64EFB7A1708C659AE772 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 659EBEB23492228B93B7D2D36113D69D11CCE7EF
FILE: 01. O Praise God in His Holiness, Op. 52 - Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.flac
Size: 8440670 Hash: 603BF569B34ED40EE7268A33F19135AE Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: A3C001943E7420D62C8A78A3CC6331F4DE28430B
foobar2000 1.3.7 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2017-10-05 13:28:51
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Alexis Cooling / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (1-2)
Andrew Randall / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (3)
Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (4-12)
Catherine Liggins / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (13)
Chloe Salvidge / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (14-15)
Domonkos Csabay / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (16-17)
Matthew Firkins / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (18)
Timothy Emberson / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (19)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR16 -1.13 dB -25.13 dB 5:02 11-Be Not Afeard, Op. 179
DR15 -1.31 dB -23.13 dB 7:14 12-Sonnet, Op. 123
DR14 -2.13 dB -23.15 dB 6:50 07-Pilgrimage Song, Op. 169
DR12 -2.04 dB -19.42 dB 1:49 01-O Praise God in His Holiness, Op. 52
DR13 -1.50 dB -20.44 dB 4:15 02-O Lorde, the Maker of Al Thing, Op. 7b
DR13 -6.90 dB -27.39 dB 2:43 03-There Is No Rose, Op. 14
DR14 -1.79 dB -22.44 dB 2:57 04-Incantation, Op. 22: I. I Saw a Staring Virgin
DR13 -1.39 dB -22.09 dB 3:06 06-Incantation, Op. 22: III. In Pity for Man's Darkening Thought
DR14 -3.85 dB -26.47 dB 3:25 09-3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 2, To Mistress Margery Wentworth
DR13 -1.81 dB -21.01 dB 1:53 10-3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 3, To Mistress Margaret Hussey
DR13 -1.13 dB -21.62 dB 3:09 13-This Is the Gate of the Lord, Op. 164
DR14 -3.86 dB -24.63 dB 4:46 14-Autumn Rain, Op. 105
DR12 -10.36 dB -28.08 dB 2:23 05-Incantation, Op. 22: II. Astrea's Holy Child!
DR12 -1.58 dB -21.57 dB 3:36 08-3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 1, To Mistress Isabel Pennell
DR15 -1.89 dB -25.01 dB 5:47 16-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 2, A Wife in London
DR15 -1.10 dB -20.75 dB 5:08 15-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 1, Embarcation
DR15 -1.10 dB -21.99 dB 6:53 19-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 5, A Christmas Ghost Story
DR17 -1.10 dB -25.25 dB 6:05 17-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 3, Drummer Hodge
DR13 -12.49 dB -30.31 dB 2:22 18-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 4, The Man He Killed
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 19
Official DR value: DR14
Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 471 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================
log date: 2017-10-05 13:28:51
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Alexis Cooling / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (1-2)
Andrew Randall / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (3)
Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (4-12)
Catherine Liggins / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (13)
Chloe Salvidge / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (14-15)
Domonkos Csabay / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (16-17)
Matthew Firkins / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (18)
Timothy Emberson / Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, Paul Spicer (19)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR16 -1.13 dB -25.13 dB 5:02 11-Be Not Afeard, Op. 179
DR15 -1.31 dB -23.13 dB 7:14 12-Sonnet, Op. 123
DR14 -2.13 dB -23.15 dB 6:50 07-Pilgrimage Song, Op. 169
DR12 -2.04 dB -19.42 dB 1:49 01-O Praise God in His Holiness, Op. 52
DR13 -1.50 dB -20.44 dB 4:15 02-O Lorde, the Maker of Al Thing, Op. 7b
DR13 -6.90 dB -27.39 dB 2:43 03-There Is No Rose, Op. 14
DR14 -1.79 dB -22.44 dB 2:57 04-Incantation, Op. 22: I. I Saw a Staring Virgin
DR13 -1.39 dB -22.09 dB 3:06 06-Incantation, Op. 22: III. In Pity for Man's Darkening Thought
DR14 -3.85 dB -26.47 dB 3:25 09-3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 2, To Mistress Margery Wentworth
DR13 -1.81 dB -21.01 dB 1:53 10-3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 3, To Mistress Margaret Hussey
DR13 -1.13 dB -21.62 dB 3:09 13-This Is the Gate of the Lord, Op. 164
DR14 -3.86 dB -24.63 dB 4:46 14-Autumn Rain, Op. 105
DR12 -10.36 dB -28.08 dB 2:23 05-Incantation, Op. 22: II. Astrea's Holy Child!
DR12 -1.58 dB -21.57 dB 3:36 08-3 Portraits, Op. 97: No. 1, To Mistress Isabel Pennell
DR15 -1.89 dB -25.01 dB 5:47 16-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 2, A Wife in London
DR15 -1.10 dB -20.75 dB 5:08 15-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 1, Embarcation
DR15 -1.10 dB -21.99 dB 6:53 19-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 5, A Christmas Ghost Story
DR17 -1.10 dB -25.25 dB 6:05 17-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 3, Drummer Hodge
DR13 -12.49 dB -30.31 dB 2:22 18-South of the Line, Op. 109: No. 4, The Man He Killed
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 19
Official DR value: DR14
Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 471 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================
Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir & Paul Spicer - South of the Line: Choral Music by John Joubert (2017)
Thanks to the Original customer.