Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of choral music with Richard Rodney Bennett's "The Glory and the Dream: Choral Music by Richard Rodney Bennett." Released on July 20, 2018, under the esteemed SOMM Recordings label, this album is a testament to Bennett's mastery of the choral genre. Spanning a duration of 1 hour and 2 minutes, the album is a collection of 17 tracks that showcase Bennett's diverse compositional style and his ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through his music.
The album opens with "I Wonder as I Wander," a hauntingly beautiful piece that sets the tone for the rest of the album. Other notable tracks include "Lullaby Baby," a soothing lullaby that is sure to lull listeners into a state of tranquility, and "The Sorrows of Mary," a powerful and moving piece that showcases Bennett's ability to convey deep emotion through his music. The album also features two madrigals, "Still to Be Neat" and "And Can the Physician," which are both delightful and engaging pieces that showcase Bennett's playful side.
One of the highlights of the album is "The Glory and the Dream," a four-movement choral work that is a tour de force of choral writing. Each movement is distinct and showcases Bennett's ability to create a sense of drama and tension through his music. The final track on the album, "One Equal Music," is a powerful and uplifting piece that leaves listeners with a sense of hope and inspiration.
Richard Rodney Bennett was an English composer of classical music and jazz, as well as a pianist, conductor, and accompanist. He was known for his diverse compositional style, which ranged from tonal to atonal and from romantic to modernist. His choral works are particularly notable for their beauty and emotional depth, and "The Glory and the Dream" is no exception. This album is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates choral music and the work of Richard Rodney Bennett.