A Voyage Through an Extraordinary Lost Treasure – Heavenly Light
Join CRD Director Emma Pauncefort, the conductor of the emerging British group Selene consort Daniel Gilchrist and musicologist Russell Blacker for a fascinating exploration of bringing works from the Eton Choirbook, a treasure trove of early English choral music, back to life.
In this podcast episode, we discuss the history of the choirbook, its unique features, the challenges of reconstructing its missing parts and the joy (and challenges!) of performing such intricate music.
Key Points:
* The Eton Choirbook: Eton College, a royal institution founded by King Henry VI, was the birthplace of the choirbook, a highly valued resource that featured lavish illuminations.
* Missing Parts: About a third of the choirbook is lost, and some pieces have incomplete sections.
* Reconstruction: Russell Blacker has dedicated years to reconstructing these lost works, using his expertise in music history and composition.
* Selene Choir: A young, vibrant choir, they were chosen by Dr. Blacker to record the reconstructed Eton Choirbook repertoire.
* The Why Now: The project is a response to a renewed interest in early music and the desire to bring these hidden gems to a wider audience.
* Challenges: The music is complex, with multiple voice parts and long, demanding melodic lines.
* The Joy of Reconstruction: Dr. Blacker shares his experiences and the challenges he faced in reconstructing the missing parts of the choirbook.
* Highlights:
* The 'Magnificat', a six-part work by Wylkynson, is considered the jewel of the crown.
* The 'O Virgo Prudentissima', another Wylkynson piece, is unique in that it uses two simultaneous plainchants.
* The jubilant style of English singing is highlighted in the works of 'Wylkynson' and others.
The full album is now available to stream in hi res and Dolby Atmos wherever you get your music: https://integral.lnk.to/HeavenlyLight
Also available to purchase from CRD Records:
https://www.crdrecords.com/product/heavenly_light/
