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Sky of my Heart

New York Polyphony, LeStrange Viols

Label: BIS
EAN / barcode: 7318599927190
Release date: 13 June 2025

New York Polyphony sings about life, death and the afterlife New York Polyphony, one of the most prominent vocal ensembles of the moment, is known for its innovative program ranging from Gregorian chants to contemporary commissions. On "Sky of my Heart" the selection spans more than four hundred years of music history and testifies to the dedication of this vocal ensemble to discover and develop new works that enrich the core repertoire of early music. Some of the works performed here deal with the fundamental themes of life, death and the afterlife and are inspired by personal loss (Andrew Smith) or the impact of Covid restrictions (Paul Moravec). Others are permeated with a spiritual atmosphere, whether religious (William Byrd, Ivan Moody, John Tavener and Becky McGlade) or meditative (Akemi Naito). The contemporary works, some of which were commissioned by New York Polyphony, are firmly rooted in the rich history of Gregorian chant, while containing very contemporary harmonies. The vocal ensemble is accompanied by LeStrange Viols in three pieces: "My Days" by Nico Muhly, a ritualistic tribute to the early 17th-century English composer Orlando Gibbons, "The Silver Swan" by Gibbons himself, which brings the program to a fitting quiet and moving close, and Byrd's "Agnus Dei". The viol ensemble adds a facet that both suits Gibbons and is original in its sound.

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