The Passion of Saint Thomas More (Special Edition)
Track Listings
| 1. Prelude (1.48) | ||
| 2. Instrumental Prelude (1.48) | ||
| 3. Dedication (4.32) | ||
| 4. Act I, Scene 1--Thomas More (3:47) | ||
| 5. Act I, Scene 2--Margaret and More (6:28) | ||
| 6. Act I, Scene 3--King Henry VIII, More & Margaret (7:35) | ||
| 7. Masque (4:12) | ||
| 8. Act II, Scene 1--Three Dark Angels (4:03) | ||
| 9. Act II, Scene 2--Margaret & a Dark Angel (6:19) | ||
| 10. Act II, Scene 3--Henry VIII & a Dark Angel (6:28) | ||
| 11. Act II, Scene 4--More and Margaret (8:24) | ||
| 12. Act II, Scene 5--More, Margaret, and a Dark Angel (3:38) | ||
| 13. Epilogue: Margaret (1:41) | ||
| 14. Postlude: More (1:20) |
Editorial Reviews "Fisher's laudable objective clearly has been to universalize the story through a ritualistic stylization that treats the music in the most traditional way possible: not as 'representation' of some abstract concept or event, but as a means of elevating the expressive impact of the text. The libretto itself, by the composer, is as simple, eloquent, and direct as his setting of it...[The work] gently touches on spiritual matters without ever becoming preachy or pretentious, telling a human story with words and music that truly work well together."
NewMusicBox, February, 2002
Spectacularly eerie...The combination of chant, Norwegian folk singing, and Indian Harmonium infuses the work with beautiful desperation.
Gramophone, May, 2002
"Hypnotic, magical, enchanting and moving...[with] touches of pure dramatic genius."
Album Description
Classic Today's David Hurwitz writes of this work: "The Passion of St. Thomas More is a chamber opera scored for three singers and four players (on English horn, guitar, Indian harmonium, and percussion). The plot, familiar to many from A Man For All Seasons, concerns Thomas More's refusal to countenance Henry VIII's divorce of Catherine of Aragon and sign a statement of support for the king's subsequent schism with Rome, for which 'crime' he was beheaded. American composer Garrett Fisher (b. 1970) focuses on the moment of decision itself and its effect on three principal characters: More (who must follow his conscience knowing the penalty for refusal to renew his loyalty to the king); his daughter Margaret (who must come to accept her father's choice); and King Henry (forced to understand that his power to compel obedience is not absolute and that More has vanquished him spiritually). These singers also take on additional roles as 'dark angels', figures that elucidate the spiritual consequences and implications of the decisions that the human characters make...
The Passion of Saint Thomas More (Special Edition)
The Passion of Saint Thomas More (Special Edition), Music, Garrett Fisher, Burdak, Sutz, Matthew Anderson, A meditation on the life and death of Saint Thomas More, written for Indian harmonium, English horn, dumbek, guitar and three singers., Classical, Classical Vocals
The Passion of Saint Thomas More (Special Edition)
Music Review:
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