MOTETS

Eva Danhelova (soprano), Pavla Zborilova (alto), Petr Julicek (tenor), Jiri Vydra (trombone), Jaroslav Zouhar (trombone), Pavel Vydra (trombone), Martin Jakubicek (organ) & Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, Petr Fiala

Bruckner:
 Ave Maria (1856), WAB 5
 Ave Maria (1861), WAB 6
 Christus factus est, WAB 11
 Ecce sacerdos magnus
 Libera me, for choir, three trombones & organ, WAB 22
 Locus iste, WAB 23
 Offertorium: Afferentur regi
 Os justi meditabitur sapientiam
 Pange lingua
 Tantum ergo in D major, WAB 42
 Tantum ergo, 4 motets, WAB 41
 Tota pulchra es, antiphon, WAB 46
 Vexilla regis
 Virga Jesse floruit

"The least often performed of Bruckner’s mature works are his short choral pieces. Most of these 17 pieces are unaccompanied and purely choral, but three are accompanied by three trombones, a striking effect…Few would guess that they were Bruckner, though occasionally the harmonies are so daring that few composers would have dared to use them. The performances here are given by a Czech Choir with a characteristic, central European sound, rougher, more throaty than one would expect from a British choir, and in that way welcome… they are impressive and I suggest going to the last three to find that out."
BBC Music Magazine *****