SKU: PL.9606

Four Motets and a Chorale are choral interpolations drawn from Randall Giles' Latin setting of St. John's Passion. Movements I, II and V have organ accompaniment, primarily derived from the choral parts. Perhaps the best-known of these texts is Crux fidelis--Faithful Cross--which is set as a traditional four-part chorale. In the other four movements, Dr. Giles blends chromatic voice leading and varied meters (often within wide tessituras) to augment the naturally expressive sense of the texts.

Easily the most difficult music of this lot is Randall Giles's stunning Four Motets and a Chorale. Quia id quod accidit and Vinea mea electa are unaccompanied pieces of uncompromising dissonance and difficulty; Attolite portas and Christus factus est are accompanied works with triadic harmony. In the former, the energy of the counterpoint gives off a glistening intensity, whereas in the latter unrelated major and minor chords are juxtaposed like primary colors to create sensuous vibrancy of a Gustav Klimt canvas. The original accompaniment of these movements is for organ and brass sextet, which may be rented from Paraclete Press. Mr. Giles was kind enought to submit the chorale, Crux fidelis, it's a beauty, and it's a keeper! - AAM Journal.