‘It’s as if Janáček, Górecki and Monteverdi have settled on a universal language.’ (Rob Cowan, BBC Radio 3)
We are delighted to announce a new publishing relationship with the distinguished Slovak composer, Vladimír Godár (b.1956).
Godár’s large and varied output includes an oratorio, works for large orchestra, chorus, many chamber works, educational pieces and a number of award-winning film scores. His haunting music was little-known outside Eastern Europe until ECM Records released his choral/vocal cycle ‘Mater’ in 2006, in stunning performances featuring Czech singer Iva Bittová. It met with instant acclaim, causing Rob Cowan on BBC Radio 3 to comment “It’s as if Janáček, Górecki and Monteverdi have settled on a universal language. A wonderful listen”.
Faber Music has now signed an exclusive contract with German label, ECM Records, in respect of the six Godár works on the ‘Mater’ album: Maykomashmalon; Magnificat; Lullabies; Ecce Puer; Stabat Mater and Regina coeli. In addition to these we will be publishing other works, to be announced in due course.
The uplifting choral anthem Regina coeli and Dormi, Jesu (an exquisite and gentle Christmas carol for unaccompanied choir) will be appearing in printed Faber editions in the next few months, and will both feature on a new full-length CD by Schola Cantorum of Oxford and James Burton, showcasing the new Faber Choral Signature Series.
REVIEWS:
‘Rich, raw and uplifting music reveals an important new voice… [Godár] uses a vocabulary in the works recorded here that will inevitably recall Górecki, and also at times Pärt and Tavener… But though the music may recall them, it does not sound like any of them for any length of time: Godár has his own way of saying what he wants to say, which is, for him, intimately connected with what he calls “musical archaeology”, specifically Slovak culture, musical, literary and religious. […] There are conscious references to the Baroque at various points but folk monody – the archetypal lullaby of the mother – is what really holds all this material together… I predict a great future for this recording.’
Gramophone (Ivan Moody), May 2007
‘Entering the world of “Mater”, Godár’s hour-long rumination on the subject of motherhood, is rather like stepping into the living continuum of music history. Drawing you into a labyrinth of musical memories, this outstanding overview of the composer's recent work work references everything from the ancient intonational patterns of folk music and archetypal Baroque-like textures to the ghostly remembrance of a Monteverdi madrigal and startling dissonances. If this suggests that “Mater” is no more than an assemblage of cultural bricolage, this certainly isn’t the case. There’s a powerfully distinctive authorial voice at work here, and a rich arterial force courses its way through the collection…’
International Record Review (Peter Quinn), March 2007
‘Godár’s creation is the stuff of – to use a word I have used seldom in more than 30 years of music writing – genius. No contest for most played album of 2006.’
Jazzwise Magazine, (Ken Hunt), Dec 06/Jan 07
AUDIO:
Maykomashmalon
Magnificat
Lullabies
Ecce Puer
Stabat Mater
Regina coeli