Prized for its amazing variety of sounds and for its technical complexity, the organ has been used to celebrate powerful rulers and religious institutions since its invention in the third century BC. This CD presents some of the earliest music written for organ, both sacred and secular, played by a leader in the field of early performance practice.  Cappella Romana joins Dr Marshal to sing chant verses in alternatim.

World Premiere Recording!

British composer Ivan Moody's English setting of the Akáthistos Hymn, is sung here by Cappella Romana in this world premier recording. Probably written early in the sixth century to be sung shortly after Christmas, the hymn is a rapturous meditation in 24 stanzas (one for each letter of the Greek alphabet) on the cosmic role of the Virgin Mary (the Theotokos) as mother of the incarnate Word of God.  

 

“New, substantial, and profound” —David Stabler, The Oregonian

The Eastern Roman Empire not only survived the downfall of “Old” Rome by a thousand years, but it also created musical tradition that is commonly known today Byzantine chant. Its origins, like those of its Western siblings—Gregorian chant, Ambrosian chant, and others are to be found in the oral traditions of Christianity’s first millennium. This recording features acclaimed Northwest choir Cappella Romana singing Byzantine chant edited from medieval sources for January 1st and 6th, two of the major feasts of the Christmas cycle of commemorations. Cappella Romana, with director Alexander Lingas, has special commitment to the repertoire of Byzantium, and has received raves from audiences and critics.