“Scotland’s outstanding professional choir” (The Times)
Cappella Nova – Discographyadmin2024-08-27T22:49:45+00:00
‘Consecration’
Cappella Nova’s latest CD ‘Consecration’ is the fourth in our series of recordings of the choral music of James MacMIllan. It is available to order direct from us at the special price of £12.50 inclusive of postage and packing.
A recent review from the magazine Choir and Organ is one of many that are on Linn’s ‘Consecration’ Webpage (click on the Reviews button).
Choir and Organ, March 2022
Tavener conducts Tavener (Linn CKD539) Alan Tavener directs Cappella Nova in this unique tribute disc featuring many world premiere recordings of gorgeous choral works by Sir John Tavener, a very personal sequence, tracking our 25 year association with him, and including pieces specially written for us. “John Tavener’s music has always moved me – even as an atheist. Listening to this album I was overwhelmed and despite this, much to my surprise, I went back and listened to some of it again thereby completely knocking for six my day’s work schedule. Since then I have continued to dip into it. Favourites? The harmony of ‘A New Commandment’ appeals to me especially and the vocal textures of ‘O That We Were There!’ are sublime. The album is a tribute to John Tavener’s memory and a testament to the interpretive skills of his third cousin whose deft touches can be heard and felt on every track.” Tommy Fowler (composer)
Listen to extracts… Tenebrae – New Choral Music by James MacMillan (Linn CKD301) World premiere recordings of The Strathclyde Motets, Missa Brevis and Tenebrae Responsories by Scotland’s leading composer.
Editor’s Choice – The Gramophone, January 2008 Who are these Angels? (Linn CKD383) “Cappella Nova follow on from their ‘undeniably beautiful’ (The Financial Times) Linn Records debut, James MacMillan:Tenebrae, with a second volume of choral works by the leading contemporary composer. The outstanding Scottish group has a unique relationship with James MacMillan, the composer having written several works for them. All of the tracks are premiere recordings, recorded under the supervision of MacMillan, whose fascinating conversation with Rebecca Tavener about his new works is included in the CD booklet. Who are these Angels? includes the last of the Strathclyde Motets, seven of which were included on Tenebrae. Also included is the Mass James MacMillan wrote specifically for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Scotland in September 2010, sung by over 150,000 people.”
Alpha & Omega (Linn CKD439) The third volume in Cappella Nova’s ground-breaking series of recordings of sacred music by James MacMillan includes his Missa Dunelmi featuring the composer as guest conductor. In a rich selection of motets the highlights include Domine non secundum peccata nostra with Madeleine Mitchell on violin, a gorgeous sequence of works about the Blessed Virgin Mary and the mighty title-work, Alpha & Omega, with its earth-shaking text from the Book of Revelation. Buy all three of the above James MacMillan CDs for a special offer of £27.50. Read reviews on the Linn Records’ website…
Columba, Most Holy of Saints (ASV CDGAU 129)Scottish Medieval plainchant, as preserved in the Inchcolm Antiphoner.“The recording has real atmosphere and captures the full richness of the singing” Classic CD
The Miracles of St Kentigern (ASV CDGAU 169)Clarsach (played by William Taylor) with voices and bells in the performance of chants from the Sprouston Breviary harks back to bardic story-telling traditions.“Alan Tavener’s superb choir unearths early-Medieval chant in a sparse, simple style – a beautiful sound” The Scotsman
Nou lat us sing – A Scottish Christmas (RTCD001)Capturing the spirit of our Carols by Candlelight concerts, this unique collection features Gaelic carols, traditional Scottish tunes, 16th & 17th century Scottish motets and Christmas songs, and carols written specially for Cappella Nova by Herbert Sumsion and Sir John Tavener.“You could not do better than find this in your stocking” Church Music Quarterly
Laudes Deo : Motets by Robert Johnson (ASV CDGAU 154)Johnson, the Scottish composer who fled to England accused of heresy, represents the generation after Carver.“A dazzling display of vocal virtuosity” BBC Music Magazine
Sacred Music for Mary Queen of Scots (ASV CDGAU 136)The Mass Cantate Domino (attrib. Carver), described by Early Music News as “a sumptuous work of great beauty and sonority”.Plus psalm-settings (sung in early Scots) by Angus and Peebles.CD deleted, but download available from Shop.
Robert Carver Vol I (ASV CDGAU 124)Volume I of Cappella Nova’s trail-blazing series. Features the 10-part Mass and motet in 19-parts, O bone Jesu .“a superb achievement” CD Review – ‘CD of the Month’CD deleted, but download available from Shop.
Robert Carver Vol II (ASV CDGAU 126).The celebrated Mass L’Homme armé, etc.“This is really beautiful music!” American Record GuideCD deleted, but download available from Shop.
Robert Carver Vol III (ASV CDGAU 127)More marvellous music by Scotland’s Renaissance genius, including the 5-part Mass Fera pessima .“sets the seal on the rediscovery of a towering genius of Renaissance polyphony” Hi Fi NewsAlso available as a download from Shop.
The Thistle and the Rose: Music from the Carver Choirbook (CDGAU 342)Carver’s virtuoso Mass for Three Voices and other gems.
Scottish Twentieth Century Choral Music (CKD014)A unique collection of works commissioned by Cappella Nova in the 1980s White on White (Lyell Cresswell);12-part Motet In Memoriam Robert Carver (Ronald Stevenson); Psalm of the Land (William Sweeney)
Tavener conducts Tavener (Linn CKD539) Alan Tavener directs Cappella Nova in this unique tribute disc featuring many world premiere recordings of gorgeous choral works by Sir John Tavener, a very personal sequence, tracking our 25 year association with him, and including pieces specially written for us. “John Tavener’s music has always moved me – even as an atheist. Listening to this album I was overwhelmed and despite this, much to my surprise, I went back and listened to some of it again thereby completely knocking for six my day’s work schedule. Since then I have continued to dip into it. Favourites? The harmony of ‘A New Commandment’ appeals to me especially and the vocal textures of ‘O That We Were There!’ are sublime. The album is a tribute to John Tavener’s memory and a testament to the interpretive skills of his third cousin whose deft touches can be heard and felt on every track.” Tommy Fowler (composer)
Listen to extracts… Tenebrae – New Choral Music by James MacMillan (Linn CKD301) World premiere recordings of The Strathclyde Motets, Missa Brevis and Tenebrae Responsories by Scotland’s leading composer.
Who are these Angels? (Linn CKD383) “Cappella Nova follow on from their ‘undeniably beautiful’ (The Financial Times) Linn Records debut, James MacMillan:Tenebrae, with a second volume of choral works by the leading contemporary composer. The outstanding Scottish group has a unique relationship with James MacMillan, the composer having written several works for them. All of the tracks are premiere recordings, recorded under the supervision of MacMillan, whose fascinating conversation with Rebecca Tavener about his new works is included in the CD booklet. Who are these Angels? includes the last of the Strathclyde Motets, seven of which were included on Tenebrae. Also included is the Mass James MacMillan wrote specifically for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Scotland in September 2010, sung by over 150,000 people.”
