Composer: Daniel Elder, Ola Gjeilo, Galina Grigorjeva, Auður Guðjohnsen, Paweł Łukaszewski, Þóra Marteinsdóttir, Paul Mealor, Sigurður Sævarsson, Björn Thorarensen, Haukur Tómasson, Pärt Uusberg, Eric Whitacre, Hreiðar Ingi Þorsteinsson
Performer: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis
Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: BIS
Catalogue: BIS2618
Release: 2023
Size: 217 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Elder: Elegy
02. Guðjohnsen: Ave verum corpus
03. Grigorjeva: In paradisum
04. Þorsteinsson: Lux æterna
05. Tómasson: Vor hinsti dagur
06. Gjeilo: Sanctus. London
07. Marteinsdóttir: Nú legg ég þér í lófa
08. Mealor: Ubi caritas
09. trad.: Sofðu unga ástin mín
10. Thorarensen: Agnus Dei
11. Sævarsson: Ave verum corpus
12. trad.: Fagurt er í fjörðum
13. Łukaszewski: Nunc dimittis
14. Uusberg: In Paradisum
15. Whitacre: Sleep
“With Meditatio I released in 2016, the Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis and Hordur Askelsson presented music commemorating the departed. Recorded some six years later, Meditatio II similarly contains compositions that interpret man’s thoughts and feelings about death, and celebrate the immobility and beauty found in age old church texts such as Ave verum corpus, In paradisum, Lux æternaand Agnus Dei . With one exception, the fifteen works for mixed a cappella choir none longer than 6 minutes were written in the 21st century, and they originate in America and Europe. Seven Icelandic composers are represented, five of them from current or former members of the Schola Cantorum. Peaceful rather than desolate, these refined miniatures unfold over slow rhythms, coated with nuances that rarely go beyond the mezzo forte. This disc also includes an impressive arrangement of Sofdu unga Astin min’, a traditional and bittersweet Icelandic lullaby, here sung without words. Founded in 1996 by Hordur Askelsson , who has remained its artistic director to this day, the Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis is comprised of 21 singers and has appeared on a number of BIS recordings.”