Górecki: Kleines Requiem & Lerchenmusik - Newton Classics CD

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• UPC: 8718247710607
• Product Type: Audio CD
• Brand Name: Newton Classics
• MPN: 8802060
• Genre: Classical
• Style: Contemporary / Minimalism
• Composer: Henryk Górecki (1933–2010)
• Artists: Schönberg Ensemble, Reinbert de Leeuw (Conductor/Piano)
• Release Year: 2011 (Original recording 1993)

Product Features

• Format: 1 Compact Disc (CD)
• Recording Mode: DDD Stereo
• Total Timing: 67'01
• Recording Date: November 1993, Amsterdam
• Packaging: Jewel Case
• Manufactured in: The Netherlands

Overview

This Newton Classics release explores the haunting and spiritual soundscapes of Polish composer Henryk Górecki, widely known for his "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs." This album features two significant chamber works: Kleines Requiem für eine Polka (Little Requiem for a Polka) and Lerchenmusik (Lark Music). Performed by the renowned Schönberg Ensemble under the direction of Reinbert de Leeuw, these pieces blend Górecki's signature minimalist style with profound emotional depth. Kleines Requiem juxtaposes somber, meditative passages with unexpected folk-like rhythms, while Lerchenmusik offers a vast, contemplative dialogue between clarinet, cello, and piano.

Interesting Facts

• The "Polka" Mystery: The title Kleines Requiem für eine Polka has long intrigued listeners. While "Requiem" suggests a funeral mass, the inclusion of "Polka" introduces a startling contrast. Some suggest it refers to the "death" of a certain musical style or a tribute to the resilience of folk culture.
• Spiritual Minimalism: Górecki was a leading figure of "holy minimalism," a movement of 20th-century composers who used simple, repetitive structures to evoke deep spiritual or religious contemplation.
• Lerchenmusik and Messiaen: Lerchenmusik was composed in 1986 and is often seen as a tribute to the lark (lerche). Interestingly, it shares thematic ties with Olivier Messiaen, who was famous for incorporating birdsong into his music.
• Reinbert de Leeuw: The late Reinbert de Leeuw was a titan of contemporary music, known for his uncompromising and deeply researched interpretations of modern masters like Górecki and Satie.

Track Listing

Kleines Requiem für eine Polka Op. 66 (for piano and 13 instruments)

1. I. Tranquillo — 8'52
2. II. Allegro impetuoso – Marcatissimo — 5'17
3. III. Allegro – Deciso assai — 2'37
4. IV. Adagio cantabile — 6'37

Lerchenmusik Op. 53 (for clarinet, cello, and piano)

1. I. Lento – Largo — 15'19
2. II. Molto lento – Tranquillo. Cantabile – Dolce — 12'03
3. III. Andante moderato – Tranquillo, cantabile — 15'18

Publishers

• Label: Newton Classics B.V.
• Copyright: ℗ 1995 Universal International Music B.V. / © 2011 Newton Classics B.V.
• Art Direction: Jan Martin Wilschut BNO

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