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CD Details: Kontakion of the Nativity of Christ With New Orthodox Christmas Carols

Cat. no. I-85 Date Listed 10/01/2008		Title:	Kontakion of the Nativity of Christ With New Orthodox Christmas Carols
		Performers:	Cappella Romana
		Conductor:	Alexander Lingas
		Recording Type / Total Time:	/ 62:34:00
		Label and Number:	Cappella Romana CR405-CD
		Issue Date:	2008
		Price:	$16.98
		Rating:	NR

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REVIEW
When a modern-day American composer converts to the Orthodox faith and writes a major choral work using the text and traditional chant motives of the Kontakion for the Nativity of Christ, the resulting music is, well... "Orthodox." Richard Toensing's Kontakion (St Romanos's complete text, not just the initial verse heard in churches today) may surprise and challenge the average listener at first, but the transcendent character of the music and Cappella Romana's powerful performance will smite those whose ears are open to new, 21st-century creations of sacred music inspired by the Orthodox ethos. As a lighter counterpart to the intensity of the Kontakion, the disc also contains twelve "new Orthodox carols," written on metered paraphrases of liturgical hymns from various services for the feast of the Nativity. As always, Cappella Romana's recording quality, scholarly and artistic presentation, and booklet are first-rate. The printed texts allow the listener to follow along and be inspired by the poetry.--V. M.

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