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Angelo Comisso: Stabat Mater
ByBut Comisso arrangement of this sorrowful hymn does not attempt to correspond with already canonical, orchestrations of this hymn; instead, he transforms its religious experience into a contemporary setting and modern, chamber jazz. In his words, this composition is "a prayer for Mothers of the World, of every color and every religion." He chose for this project trusted partners for this project trumpet player Markus Stockhausen and drummer Christian Thomè, the same trio that recorded before two fine albumsLichtblick (Aktivraum, 2005) and Es war einmal ...instanti infiniti (Aktivraum, 2007)and added an all-female chamber choir, the Venice based, 14 singers of Coro Femminile Da Camrera Látomás.
Comisso succeeds in creating a deeply reserved and intimate atmosphere throughout the composition's nine parts. The trio retains its confident, communicative and melodic interplay, and interacts with the choir beautifully, leaving enough space for solo vocal parts, instrumental solos and brief, gentle improvisations. This somber and patient atmosphere is so distant from everyday hustle or modern, urban jazz: innocent and sacred in its still relevant, lyrical message, but sober and secular in its imaginative contemporary arrangement; reflective with its powerful past images but immediate in its modern melodic tonal language; celestial in its solo vocal parts but deeply grounded in the trio segments. This inherent duality encourages contemplation on the power of music to enhance deep visions and sensations.
Beautifully conceived and masterfully executed.
Track Listing
Stabat Mater Dolorosa; Cuius Animam Gementem; Quis Est Homo; Vioit Suum Dulcem Natum; Stabat Mater (Memento); Dum Pendebat Filius; Nell'apparir Del Sempiterno Sole; Ein Mater Fons Amobis; Quando Corpus Morietur.
Personnel
Angelo Comisso
pianoAngelo Comisso: piano, electronics; Markus Stockhausen: trumpet, electronics; Christian Thomè: drums; Coro Femminile Da Camrera Látomás: vocals.
Album information
Title: Stabat Mater | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Blue Serge
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