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About As The Leaves Fall - Choral Music By DARKE And
This revelatory new recording presents the first recordings of two major works for choir and orchestra by the twentieth century British composer, Harold Darke. Today, Harold Darke is known for a single work, the beautiful and well-loved Christmas carol, In the bleak midwinter. he two cantatas recorded here As the leaves fall and The Kingdom of God reveal for the first time a musical voice of great depth and consumate skill on a much larger canvas. In both works, a chorus and radiant soprano soloist – sung here by the young Hannah Dienes-Williams – are supported by luxurious post Elgarian orchestration which envelops the listener in rich harmonies and colourful instrumental sonorities. Faith and mysticism are at the heart of this disc and the Requiem – in the 1961 version for mezzo-soprano, choir, organ, and small orchestra – by Harold Darke’s slightly younger French contemporary, Maurice Duruflé, makes an apposite companion piece.
