Divine Art Records

Period: Contemporary

  • Invocazione brillante: Organ music by Carson Cooman

    Invocazione brillante: Organ music by Carson Cooman

    Carson Cooman is many things musical – organist and Composer in Residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University; writer, critic and consultant, concert organist, and above all a highly prolific composer of music in a wide variety of genres, from orchestral to song. His organ music ranges from the delicate and mystical, liturgical and devotional pieces to dynamic concert works including a majestic set of Preludes and Fugues and so far) three Organ Symphonies.

    Alongside the series of recordings made by Erik Simmons for Divine Art, we are delighted to offer this new recording by top German organist Philip Hartmann, which includes some pieces previously recorded by Simmons and some new premieres. Hartmann has been organist at Ulm Cathedral, Germany since 1999 and in 2005 was appointed as district Cantor for Ulm deanery. He has played more than 600 recitals throughout Europe. He specializes in American and British organ music and has had 40 new works dedicated to him. Here he plays the magnificent 2013 Link-Gaida organ at Pauluskirche, Ulm.

  • Vyacheslav Artyomov: Album XI

    Vyacheslav Artyomov: Album XI

    2021 ICMA Nominee: Contemporary Music

    Vyacheslav Artyomov is considered by many to be Russia’s greatest living composer. His music is deep, ultimately spiritual and brilliantly crafted, with influences from the Russian symphonic tradition colored by Mahler, Scriabin, Honegger and Messiaen to name a few – but melded into a unique voice.

    The Divine Art Artyomov Retrospective (which to date has received wonderful reviews internationally) is a mix of new recordings and former Melodiya releases. This is the eleventh album, containing a selection of studio and live concert performances of chamber works for slightly unusual combinations: flute quartet, and saxophones much to the fore. Apart from ‘Hymns of Sudden Wafts’ and Clarinet Sonata these are all premiere releases. The works are performed by some of the best of Moscow’s orchestral and chamber musicians and represent a somewhat lighter (though the term is relative) side to Artyomov’s work than his massive, granitic symphonies. It includes a touching set of songs on poems by Ashot Grashi.

    The extensive list of performers is drawn from the cream of Russia’s chamber and orchestral musicians at the time of the recordings which were made between 1970 and 1991 (and totally remastered in 2019):
    Ruzanna Lisitsian (soprano); Karina Lisitsian (mezzo-soprano); Lev Mikhailov (soprano sax); Alexander Oseichuk (alto sax); Alexei Nabatov (tenor sax); Vladimir Yeriomin (baritone sax); Oleg Tantsov (clarinet); Vladimir Pakulichev, Alexander Timochin & Albert Gofman (flutes); Sergei Khokhlov (alto flute); Valery Popov (bassoon); Alexei Semionov (harpsichord); Yuri Smirnov, Piotr Meschaninov & Vyachelsav Artyomov (pianos); Ilia Spivak (vibraphone, bells)

  • Robin Stevens: String Quartets and String Quintet

    Robin Stevens: String Quartets and String Quintet

    The British composer Robin Stevens is a great talent waiting to be discovered by the global music community. His varied, stimulating and expressive work arises from many influences – from the music of the Romantic era, to mathematics, his faith, and the influence of his main teacher in undergraduate days, John Joubert, and he is now producing substantial works for varied instrumental groupings, which are modernist and original, but yet immediately accessible.

    This album contains the premiere recording of the String Quintet, an early work from his student days, rich in allusions to early 20th century works, but already containing many of the elements of his later work: tangy harmonies, intricate counterpoint, modal lyricism and often almost neo-Romantic expression. Above all the works are a reflection of the composer and his perceptions of the word and the people around him, yet at the same time universal in their appeal.

    The two quartets are very different. The first was written in 2008 after the composer had recovered from a 17-year debilitating illness and while his style was developing considerably as he undertook his Doctorate. Its single movement is rich in variety, using a small few thematic ideas in constantly evolving forms. The second, from 2011, is a study of three character types (not necessarily real individuals) which are each distinctive but clearly related.

  • James Whitbourn: The Seven Heavens and other choral works

    James Whitbourn: The Seven Heavens and other choral works

    The major work here is the suite The Seven Heavens, for choir and chamber ensemble; also we have seven other marvellous choral pieces.. All are brilliantly performed by Cor Cantiamo, the accomplished and acclaimed professional ensemble which is the current Choir in Residence at Northern Illinois University, USA, under its founder and conductor Eric A Johnson. Since its inaugural concert with Morten Lauridsen in 2010, Cor Cantiamo has developed a mission to work with contemporary composers resulting in many commissions and recordings.

    James Whitbourn is a Grammy-nominated composer and ‘a truly original communicator in modern British choral music’ (The Observer). His works are admired for their direct communication to performers and audiences. This is the seventh album devoted entirely to his choral music. His eclectic inspirations include C.S. Lewis (The Seven Heavens), Anne Frank (the very popular Annelies), notable individuals, NASA space missions and liturgical texts. In all, his music is altogether delightful.

    Instrumentalists for each work:
    The Seven Heavens:Mathias Tacke, violin; Jesse Ya-chen Lee, cello; Evan Fojtik, flute; Devin Starr, clarinet;
    Gwyn Downy, bassoon; Kelly Langenberg, French horn; William Goldenberg, piano
    Ada: Mathias Tacke, violin; Faye Seeman, harp
    The Voices Stilled: Mathias Tacke and Casey McGrath, violins; Donghee Han, viola; Jesse Ya-Chen Lee, cello; Evan Fojtik, flute
    Eternal Rest: Mathias Tacke and Casey McGrath, violins; Donghee Han, viola; Jesse Ya-Chen Lee, cello;
    Henry Robbins, double bass; Kyle Flens, timpani
    Canticle of Mary/Canticle of Simeon: Donghee Han, viola; Dan Mattix, organ
    (other works are for unaccompanied choir).

  • Robin Stevens: Prevailing Winds

    Robin Stevens: Prevailing Winds

    The British composer Robin Stevens is a great talent waiting to be discovered by the global music community. His varied, stimulating and expressive work is exemplified by this collection of music for wind instruments, ranging from the jolly and accessible (yet very difficult to play) Concert Rondo to the darker, deeper and meaningful Grief’s Portrait.

    Stevens has a brilliant touch, and also is an excellent pianist, cellist and guitarist and plays all three instruments here, alongside some of the foremost instrumentalists from the musical hotspot of Manchester, England: John Bradbury (principal clarinet, BBC Philharmonic); John Turner (recorderist: Academy of Ancient Music etc.); Richard Simpson (principal oboe, BBC Symphony), Janet Simpson (former principal keyboardist, Hallé Orchestra); and wonderful soloists Sarah Miller (flutes); Helen Peller (bassoon) and Lindsey Stoker (horn).

  • Eternal City (Carson Cooman Organ Music vol. 13)

    Eternal City (Carson Cooman Organ Music vol. 13)

    Carson Cooman is many things musical – organist and Composer in Residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University; writer, critic and consultant, concert organist, and above all a highly prolific composer of music in a wide variety of genres, from orchestral to song.

    His organ compositions come in many styles, from liturgical models, to substantial secular pieces such as his organ symphonies, preludes and fugues. On this album a range of works, most composed in 2017-9, which are ideal for the rich and atmospheric sound of the chosen instrument.

    Erik Simmons is a superb organist, making his 13th Cooman organ album for Divine Art. He is again playing the wonderful ‘Sun Organ’ of St. Peter & Paul, Görlitz, recorded through the Hauptwerk system.

  • Mistral: Music by Jonathan Östlund

    Mistral: Music by Jonathan Östlund

    Jonathan Östlund is a Swedish composer who has recently been living in London and is now in Romania. He has manifested an avid interest for music from an early age and has pursued his passion with a BA and MA in Composition at the Luleå Tekniska Universitet, in Sweden. He has studied under the artistic guidance of Prof. Rolf Martinsson, Prof. Jan Sandström and Prof. Sverker Jullander, among others, and has so far completed almost 100 works, including several orchestral pieces and concertos for both violin and piano, and has been awarded many prizes in international competitions.

    This is Divine Art’s third album devoted to Östlund. It is similar to the previous albums in that it features orchestral, instrumental and chamber music with inspiration from nature and also showing the skills of the composer in various genres. Fine young musicians have been hand-picked to perform, alongside the excellent Moscow Bow Tie Orchestra. Östlund’s music is very accessible and tonal and often full of wit and humor, and always atmospheric. For those reasons a number of respected critics and journalists are taking much note of the composer’s work.

  • Vyacheslav Artyomov – Retrospective Series (discount set)

    Vyacheslav Artyomov – Retrospective Series (discount set)

    According to many, including us, Artyomov is by far the greatest composer in Russia today. This set includes all eleven of the albums issued in 2017-2020 including orchestral, choral, chamber and vocal works. Three of these albums are brand new recordings (DDA 25143, 25144 and 25184) while others have been remastered from originals made by Melodiya and other Russian labels and also previously unissued tracks. Available on CD and in CD-quality FLAC and MP3

    Digital downloads include all 11 booklets which have all contents in both English and Russian. This bulk set provides a 25% discount over the items bought separately.

    Details of each volume (including reviews and track lists):
    DDA 25143 Symphony: On the Threshold of a Bright World (and other works)
    DDA 25144 Symphony: Gentle Emanation (and other works)
    DDA 25164 Sola Fide / Tempo Costante
    DDA 25171 Symphony: The Way to Olympus (and other works)
    DDA 25172 A Symphony of Elegies (and other works)
    DDA 25173 Requiem
    DDA 25174 A Sonata of Meditations (and other works)
    DDA 25175 Symphony: In Memoriam (and other works)
    DDA 25176 Star Wind (and other works)
    DDA 25184 Symphony: In Spe / Latin Hymns
    DDA 25198Album XI: Chamber music

  • Ithaka: vocal and choral works by Lydia Kakabadse

    Ithaka: vocal and choral works by Lydia Kakabadse

    British composer Lydia Kakabadse (with roots in Greece, Austria, Russia and Georgia) reflects her cultural heritage in music that has western and mediterranean elements – while this is strongest in her choral music, it is heard to good effect in her chamber works, which are often written in modal intonation; her previous recorded collections have been very positively reviewed. This album is in two parts – first the stunning choral work ‘Odyssey’ – absolutely traditional in its rich harmony but carrying one or two surprises, a work commissioned by the Hellenic Institute at Royal Holloway University of London and premiered in2018; and a set of songs written in 2018 and 2019 spanning a range of styles from ballad, to arioso to folk jazz, Romantic, antiphonal and minimalistic!

    The performers are all top rate: Clare McCaldin is an outstanding mezzo-soprano with a significant recorded legacy already. Paul Turner specializes in chamber music and has accompanied eminent singers and instrumentalists. Sara Trickey is well known as a fine violinist and Cecily Beer is in demand as both singer and harpist. The Choir of Royal Holloway is considered to be one of the finest mixed-voice collegiate choirs in Britain.

    Odyssey: Choir of Royal Holloway, Cecily Beer (harp), directed by Rupert Gough
    I Remember: Choir of Royal Holloway, Sara Trickey (violin), Cecily Beer (harp), directed by Rupert Gough
    Other songs: Clare McCaldin (mezzo-soprano), Paul Turner (piano)

  • Visions of the Greek Soul

    Visions of the Greek Soul

    Cilia Petridou was an accomplished pianist until her career was ended by major surgery, since when she has concentrated on composition. Moving with her family to the UK, she was hugely affected by the Turkish invasion of north Cyprus which destroyed their home town of Famagusta; her music is often informed by that political and social tragedy and also by the landscapes of Cyprus, ancient literature and the Greek Orthodox liturgy.

    This double album is in two parts: The Asmata is a collection of songs inspired by modern Greek poetry, divided between two sopranos. A small vocal ensemble then presents the Byzantine Doxology, a new setting of Orthodox liturgical texts. Most is sung in Greek and is suffused, even in the case of a setting of Emily Dickinson, with the musical traditions of that country. The composer has also been much inspired by the ancient writings of Anyte of Tegea.

    More music by Cilia can be found on ‘Sounds of the Chionistra‘ and ‘The Mystery of Christmas‘

  • How Great our Joy! – Organ music for Christmas

    How Great our Joy! – Organ music for Christmas

    A special album of works for Christmas – many of them arrangements and fantasias on well-loved hymns and carols, and some new dedicated compositions. All the music is by Carson Cooman, composer in residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University, and America’s most prolific composer of works for organ. This music is just as good to listen to at any time of year and is expertly played by Erik Simmons, a superb organist for whom this is the twelfth album of Cooman’s music on the Divine Art label. We hear the wonderful ‘Sun Organ’ of St. Peter & Paul, Görlitz, recorded through the Hauptwerk system.

    Find the other issues in this series and a discount complete set by clicking on the composer name above or in the composer index.

  • Portals – Carson Cooman Organ Music vol. 11

    Portals – Carson Cooman Organ Music vol. 11

    Carson Cooman is many things musical – organist and Composer in Residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University; writer, critic and consultant, concert organist, and above all a highly prolific composer of music in a wide variety of genres, from orchestral to song.

    His organ compositions come in many styles, from liturgical models, to more gritty and substantial pieces such as his organ symphonies, preludes and fugues. This album contains several fine works including the Third Organ Symphony.

    Erik Simmons is a superb organist, making his eleventh Cooman organ album for Divine Art. He is playing the wonderful ‘Sun Organ’ of St. Peter & Paul, Görlitz, recorded through the Hauptwerk system.

    This is volume 11 of this highly praised series. Volume 12 is a Christmas music album; volume 13 due June 2020.

    Find the other volumes and a discount complete set by clicking composer name above or in the composer index.