jmc's classics
As with most things, there is always debate on what is the best. Everybody has their own opinion. Recently on the British site classicalfm.com there was a list of the 15 greatest choral works. The most famous Handel's Messiah was listed at #4. The top one was Vivaldi's Gloria in excelsis Deo. At #2 was J.S. Bach's St. Matthew's Passion (BWV244). That is one of my favorite choral works along with the St. John's Passion (BWV245) is not even listed. Neither was his B minor Mass (BWV232) I personally enjoy all three.
Some of the pieces that are listed I am not familiar with. At #9 is Bruckner's Mass in F which is from 1867. He is remembered for his symphonies. I also like his chamber music. Carl Orff's (1896-1981) Carmina Burani is listed at #12. I am not familiar with it. It is about some secular texts of poems from the late Middle Ages. Parts of it have been featured in films and commercials. Orff also wrote two operas. There is one contemporary piece that is listed: Arvo Part's Beatitudes dating from 1990. The Beatitudes are from Christ's Sermon on the Mount and tells the type of qualities that a person should have. Part is from Estonia. I have heard some of his secular music. Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. One thing that I am disappointed about with this list is that it did not list any of Tchaikovsky's or Rachmaninoff's choral works. Although both are not remembered for choral works, both were Russian and wrote music for The Russian Orthodox Church. i like choral music. There are many excellent recordings of the above mentioned works. I am not going to go down and do a critique of all of the works. It would take too long. Check out Classical FM. They do have some interesting articles.
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