Britten: Sacred And Profane, Etc - Stephen Layton, Polyphony (2012)

Posted By: peotuvave

Britten: Sacred And Profane, Etc - Stephen Layton, Polyphony (2012)
EAC Rip | Flac (Tracks + cue + log) | 1 CD | Full Scans | 193 MB
Genre: Classical | Label: Hyperion | Catalog Number: 67140

2013 sees the centenary of Britten’s birth and a wide-ranging programme of concerts, operas and events, including performances of his choral music. This recording is the perfect introduction to this repertoire. Included on this Gramophone Award-winning recording is the last choral work for professionals which Britten was to complete—Sacred and Profane—a collection of eight medieval lyrics for voices in five parts (SSATB). Also included is the Chorale after an old French Carol whose text is by W H Auden (a close friend of Britten’s). The Chorale’s text was part of an unachieved Christmas Oratorio on which Britten and Auden intended to collaborate.

The seven settings of poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins entitled A.M.D.G. were never performed in the composer’s lifetime and indeed had to wait until 1984 for their first performance.

Composer: Benjamin Britten
Conductor: Stephen Layton
Orchestra/Ensemble: Polyphony

Reviews: There used to be more recorded competition for the works on this very well sung and intelligently programmed collection of Benjamin Britten a cappella choral pieces. But with the classical record label shakeouts of the past three or four years, most of the better choices have disappeared from the catalog. The Sixteen's wonderful three-volume Britten traversal, which included all but one of the selections featured here, had the misfortune to appear on the now-defunct Collins label; Trinity College Choir suffered the same fate on Conifer; and although there's technically still a Virgin Classics, many of its titles have vanished, including one with the London Sinfonietta Chorus performing A.M.D.G. and other unaccompanied Britten works, among them a five-voice rendition of Hymn to St. Cecilia.


So, for this repertoire there remains the Finzi Singers' generally excellent Britten Choral Edition (Chandos, three volumes), and this single CD from Stephen Layton's Polyphony ensemble. It's hard to tell exactly how many singers there are–the booklet lists 29, the photograph shows only 16, and from the sound of these performances, a fair guess would be 18-20. One thing is certain: these are virtuoso choral singers and they handle Britten's vocal and ensemble challenges–these are among the most difficult of Britten's entire choral output–with the bold confidence of those who know they can do anything. The "Country Girls" and "Rustics and Fishermen" choruses from Gloriana are good examples of this commanding style–but throughout the program there is little for the critical ear to notice except to praise these singers' unflagging energy and complete grasp of the notes.


If they are betrayed, the very close sonic perspective is at fault, for it periodically forces us to hear individual voices where ensemble balance is required. This effect happens randomly and seems to be mostly a function of volume and interpretive intensity. However, it's easy to forgive this flaw in the face of such dynamic performances. I like Polyphony's ordering of the seven A.M.D.G. songs, which makes better musical sense than the London Sinfonietta Chorus arrangement (Britten's unfinished, withdrawn manuscript left no definitive order), and it's also nice to have the rarely heard Chorale after an Old French Carol, a setting of an Auden text originally to be part of a Christmas Oratorio that Britten and his poet friend never wrote. The only other recorded version of this piece is found on a Chandos recording with The Britten Singers and conductor Richard Hickox, along with works by Finzi and Holst. Obviously, this new recording is an important addition to a catalog starving for a fresh infusion of Britten choral music.

Tracklisting:

1. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam by Benjamin Britten
Conductor: Stephen Layton
Orchestra/Ensemble: Polyphony
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1939; England

2. Flower Songs (5), Op. 47 by Benjamin Britten
Conductor: Stephen Layton
Orchestra/Ensemble: Polyphony
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1950; England

3. Chorale on an old french Carol by Benjamin Britten
Conductor: Stephen Layton
Orchestra/Ensemble: Polyphony
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1944; England

4. Gloriana, Op. 53: Choral Dances by Benjamin Britten
Conductor: Stephen Layton
Orchestra/Ensemble: Polyphony
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1953; England

5. Sacred and Profane, Op. 91 by Benjamin Britten
Conductor: Stephen Layton
Orchestra/Ensemble: Polyphony
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1974-1975; England

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 3 from 29. August 2011

EAC extraction logfile from 24. August 2013, 5:48

Stephen Layton: Polyphony / Britten: Sacred & Profane & Other Choral Works

Used drive : SlimtypeDVD A DS8A8SH Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 512 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "ALBUM ARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "COMMENT=EAC Secure Mode, Test & Copy, AccurateRip, FLAC -8" %source%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 2:01.44 | 0 | 9118
2 | 2:01.44 | 2:13.24 | 9119 | 19117
3 | 4:14.68 | 2:09.69 | 19118 | 28861
4 | 6:24.62 | 2:47.09 | 28862 | 41395
5 | 9:11.71 | 2:15.63 | 41396 | 51583
6 | 11:27.59 | 2:23.15 | 51584 | 62323
7 | 13:50.74 | 3:43.26 | 62324 | 79074
8 | 17:34.25 | 3:03.22 | 79075 | 92821
9 | 20:37.47 | 3:03.17 | 92822 | 106563
10 | 23:40.64 | 1:46.14 | 106564 | 114527
11 | 25:27.03 | 2:13.50 | 114528 | 124552
12 | 27:40.53 | 1:31.36 | 124553 | 131413
13 | 29:12.14 | 3:20.69 | 131414 | 146482
14 | 32:33.08 | 1:26.24 | 146483 | 152956
15 | 33:59.32 | 2:22.27 | 152957 | 163633
16 | 36:21.59 | 1:27.66 | 163634 | 170224
17 | 37:49.50 | 1:01.27 | 170225 | 174826
18 | 38:51.02 | 0:55.12 | 174827 | 178963
19 | 39:46.14 | 2:29.63 | 178964 | 190201
20 | 42:16.02 | 4:44.48 | 190202 | 211549
21 | 47:00.50 | 1:32.53 | 211550 | 218502
22 | 48:33.28 | 0:35.01 | 218503 | 221128
23 | 49:08.29 | 2:06.69 | 221129 | 230647
24 | 51:15.23 | 1:13.66 | 230648 | 236188
25 | 52:29.14 | 2:46.18 | 236189 | 248656
26 | 55:15.32 | 1:37.69 | 248657 | 256000
27 | 56:53.26 | 1:56.69 | 256001 | 264769
28 | 58:50.20 | 2:34.09 | 264770 | 276328


Track 1

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\01 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - 5 Flower Songs, Op. 47 - #1 To Daffodils.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 56.4 %
Extraction speed 0.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 1A0B58AC
Copy CRC 1A0B58AC
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [5924E4F5], AccurateRip returned [5653B959] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 2

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\02 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - 5 Flower Songs, Op. 47 - #2 The Succession Of The 4 Sweet Months.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:03.70

Peak level 45.1 %
Extraction speed 1.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 1FE69298
Copy CRC 1FE69298
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [731CCADD], AccurateRip returned [584D8467] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\03 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - 5 Flower Songs, Op. 47 - #3 Marsh Flowers.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.37

Peak level 46.0 %
Extraction speed 1.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 6457D278
Copy CRC 6457D278
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [2A0872FE], AccurateRip returned [B46041D9] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\04 - Stephen Layton- Polyphony - Britten - 5 Flower Songs, Op. 47 - #4 The Evening Primrose.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:05.07

Peak level 54.2 %
Extraction speed 1.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 763CD82F
Copy CRC 763CD82F
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [39A7C2B6], AccurateRip returned [2B2A03D4] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\05 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - 5 Flower Songs, Op. 47 - #5 Ballad Of Green Broom.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.28

Peak level 88.9 %
Extraction speed 1.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC B990261C
Copy CRC B990261C
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 7) [5706EE1F], AccurateRip returned [76910AE1] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\06 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - A. M. D. G. - 1. Prayer I.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:08.16

Peak level 95.1 %
Extraction speed 1.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5539B09B
Copy CRC 5539B09B
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [AA895706], AccurateRip returned [F41196A9] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\07 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - A. M. D. G. - 2. Rosa Mystica.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.25

Peak level 52.0 %
Extraction speed 1.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 9F8CF7AD
Copy CRC 9F8CF7AD
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [CE727A12], AccurateRip returned [56FFC717] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\08 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten A. M. D. G. - 3. God's Grandeur.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.60

Peak level 81.1 %
Extraction speed 1.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC A7C5F151
Copy CRC A7C5F151
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [FF8ECD6B], AccurateRip returned [F5B7C322] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 9

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\09 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - A. M. D. G. - 4. Prayer II.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.25

Peak level 56.8 %
Extraction speed 1.3 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 94979121
Copy CRC 94979121
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 7) [8C788F04], AccurateRip returned [23BEA6B2] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 10

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\10 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - A. M. D. G. - 5. O Deus, Ego Amo Te.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.72

Peak level 91.1 %
Extraction speed 1.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 07764D83
Copy CRC 07764D83
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 7) [036BCD28], AccurateRip returned [423B860D] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 11

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\11 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - A. M. D. G. - 6. The Soldier.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:03.68

Peak level 94.8 %
Extraction speed 1.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC C44635CB
Copy CRC C44635CB
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [C02651BA], AccurateRip returned [48A68158] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 12

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\12 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - A. M. D. G. - 7. Heaven-Haven.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.36

Peak level 17.9 %
Extraction speed 1.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC DA6E319A
Copy CRC DA6E319A
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [434398FA], AccurateRip returned [975913B4] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 13

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\13 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - A Hymn To The Virgin.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:07.01

Peak level 93.5 %
Extraction speed 1.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 20C6C55F
Copy CRC 20C6C55F
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [878F1651], AccurateRip returned [C922101E] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 14

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\14 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Choral Dances From Gloriana, Op. 53 (1954 Version) - 1. Time.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:08.66

Peak level 65.3 %
Extraction speed 1.1 X
Track quality 99.8 %
Test CRC 2EDF880F
Copy CRC 2EDF880F
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [3ABD581A], AccurateRip returned [230A2EF2] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 15

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\15 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Choral Dances From Gloriana, Op. 53 (1954 Version) - 2. Concord.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.40

Peak level 51.8 %
Extraction speed 1.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FEBC98EB
Copy CRC FEBC98EB
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [DB001F7C], AccurateRip returned [14CA644A] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 16

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\16 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Choral Dances From Gloriana, Op. 53 (1954 Version) - 3. Time & Concord.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:03.34

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D0291751
Copy CRC D0291751
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [50A19995], AccurateRip returned [E51DD10E] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 17

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\17 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Choral Dances From Gloriana, Op. 53 (1954 Version) - 4. Country Girls.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:03.67

Peak level 53.0 %
Extraction speed 1.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 9397AFAF
Copy CRC 9397AFAF
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [F4FEC0FE], AccurateRip returned [E63F9F57] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 18

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\18 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Choral Dances From Gloriana, Op. 53 (1954 Version) - 5. Rustics & Fishermen.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:00.52

Peak level 23.2 %
Extraction speed 1.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 401850EE
Copy CRC 401850EE
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [B6AE93AE], AccurateRip returned [95C1A50C] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 19

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\19 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Choral Dances From Gloriana, Op. 53 (1954 Version) - 6. Final Dance Of Homage.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.28

Peak level 55.1 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC F92A3AAA
Copy CRC F92A3AAA
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [4B22FC0F], AccurateRip returned [33E27516] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 20

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\20 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Chorale After An Old French Carol.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:09.73

Peak level 42.9 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 7BC0FCC9
Copy CRC 7BC0FCC9
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [0C24BEB5], AccurateRip returned [F5D1825F] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 21

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\21 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 1. St Godric's Hymn.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:08.22

Peak level 86.7 %
Extraction speed 1.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC B0FCCFDA
Copy CRC B0FCCFDA
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [2A4611FB], AccurateRip returned [39E3D17F] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 22

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\22 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 2. I Mon Waxe Wod.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.03

Peak level 30.5 %
Extraction speed 1.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D15D2FD3
Copy CRC D15D2FD3
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [091D9875], AccurateRip returned [8F6B7C5D] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 23

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\23 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 3. Lenten Is Come.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:03.73

Peak level 82.6 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 4E94D7C3
Copy CRC 4E94D7C3
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [CF0AF106], AccurateRip returned [37A1DE3D] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 24

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\24 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 4. The Long Night.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.31

Peak level 89.1 %
Extraction speed 1.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 6C6E018E
Copy CRC 6C6E018E
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [008703F6], AccurateRip returned [5BEF74F3] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 25

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\25 - Cecilia Osmond, Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 5. Yif Ic Of Luve Can.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:05.55

Peak level 39.6 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 56283DF7
Copy CRC 56283DF7
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [E393FE62], AccurateRip returned [F2ADBB8C] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 26

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\26 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 6. Carol.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:04.43

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.5 X
Track quality 99.8 %
Test CRC 6B259D14
Copy CRC 6B259D14
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 7) [592FAE0C], AccurateRip returned [0F773878] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 27

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\27 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 7. Ye That Pasen By.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:06.31

Peak level 94.4 %
Extraction speed 2.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 80F798AB
Copy CRC 80F798AB
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 7) [ACF3F5B5], AccurateRip returned [463F617D] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 28

Filename I:\MY RIPS\Britten\28 - Stephen Layton, Polyphony - Britten - Sacred & Profane, Op. 91 - 8. A Death.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.58

Peak level 61.8 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 606E8AE1
Copy CRC 606E8AE1
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 8) [4B32156A], AccurateRip returned [1621BDB2] (AR v2)
Copy OK


No tracks could be verified as accurate
You may have a different pressing from the one(s) in the database

No errors occurred

End of status report

==== Log checksum A347EF6C7A477436CAF000E5E29EDDA9C0B8B5F9B1F8A48D6636B0E21ED91F36 ====



Thanks to the original releaser