Es Naht Ein Licht

ENSEMBLE OCTAVIANS

The third recording by this charismatic a cappella octet The Ensemble Octavians – all are former singers with the boys’ choir of the Jena Philharmonie – have recorded a musical Christmas gift with their current CD ‘A Light Is Coming’ that offers well-known and unknown songs from the festival of festivals. The young singers noticed in their concerts that there is a special synergy that emerges between themselves and their audience, particularly during these selected arrangements – they subsequently put together a personal programme in the form of this CD repertoire. It combines into a poignant whole the mysticism of the pending birth of Jesus with the wonder at the child in the manger, and finally, the exuberant joy in connection with this ‘birthday party’. From moving verses highlighting the Christmas festival, to bible texts set tomusic, to rather secular contemplations – the entire spectrum of Christmas vocal music is represented here. The fact that the pieces are arranged for up to eight-voice men’s choir allows us to enjoy old favourites such as ‘Maria durch ein Dornwald ging’ or ‘Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht’ in a completely new way. Atmospheric tones sound in the adaptation of the Praetorius arrangement of ‘Es ist ein Ros entsprungen’ by Jan Sandström or the motet ‘Tu solus qui facis mirabilia’ by Josquin Desprez and festive chords with andreas Hammerschmidt’s famous ‘Machet die Tore weit’. Adaptations by and for the legendary King’s Singers round out the Octavians’ repertoire both atmospherically and joyously, and focus the listener’s attention away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas to the child in the manger.

Price: $27.98