Hans Gál: Music for Voices, Volume Two
Whether in his original home of Vienna, as a conservatoire director in Germany, or as an émigré in Edinburgh, where he became one of the mainstays of musical life, Hans Gál (1890–1987) championed choral singing as a way of directly involving people in making music: he founded and conducted a number of choirs and provided an extensive output of choral compositions. This second album of Gál’s choral music offers a vivid cross-section of his music for chamber choir, featuring mixed voices, women’s voices and male-voice choir, both a cappella and with piano, and ranging across four decades
Borealis
Ian Buckle, piano (Tracks 1–3, 15–17, 23–25)
Bridget Budge, director (Tracks 1–17, 23–25)
Stephen Muir, director (Tracks 18–22)
Listen To This Recording:
- No. 1 Advent
- No. 2 Adagio
- No. 3 Sankt Nepomuk
- No. 1 Der römische Brunnen
- No. 2 Am Abend
- No. 3 Wiegenlied
- No. 1 Bruder Augustin
- No. 2 Abendlied
- No. 3 Nachtgesang
- No. 4 Grabschrift
- No. 5 Trutzlied
- No. 6 Der faule Schäfer
- No. 1 Her Rambling
- No. 2 Carpe Diem
- No. 1 Der Fromme
- No. 2 Der Weise
- No. 3 Der Unvorsichtige
- No. 1 Crabbed Age
- No. 2 Love is a Sickness
- No. 3 Tell me where is Fancy bred
- No. 4 Capriccio
- No. 5 Epilogue
- No. 1 Sacred Song
- No. 2 Echo
- No. 3 Cupid’s Lottery
FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘These pieces should be in the repertoire of all male voice choirs. […]
The recording is to the usual high standard of Toccata Classics. […]
Borealis […] is a mixed choir of 16-20 singers, directed by Bridget Budge and Stephen Muir. Their sound is an interesting blend of strength and intimacy, power and reflection. Ian Buckle provides a magnificent service at the piano, with a commanding performance of several tricky accompaniments.
The second volume of Hans Gál’s vocal music impressed me as much as the first instalment. It is a great cross-section of works composed over a period of four decades. I certainly look forward to the third.’
—John France, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘This is a most interesting collection of choral songs. Hans Gál was, on this evidence, a fine composer of music for choirs. Borealis, a professional chamber choir based in the north of England, is an accomplished ensemble which tackles Gál’s music confidently and capably.’
—John Quinn, MusicWeb International