Benedict Sheehan has been active as both a conductor and a composer, working in the growing tradition of Orthodox music in the U.S. With this release, he brings his two enterprises together with marvelous results. His Vespers setting, like others, mixes intonation-like movements (with beautiful little inflections) with larger psalms and other pieces. As a composer, Sheehan has built a unique style, unmistakably drawing on the Orthodox tradition but including influences from folk music, 20th century music (notably Stravinsky ...
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Benedict Sheehan has been active as both a conductor and a composer, working in the growing tradition of Orthodox music in the U.S. With this release, he brings his two enterprises together with marvelous results. His Vespers setting, like others, mixes intonation-like movements (with beautiful little inflections) with larger psalms and other pieces. As a composer, Sheehan has built a unique style, unmistakably drawing on the Orthodox tradition but including influences from folk music, 20th century music (notably Stravinsky's choral music), and more. The Vespers are an excellent example for anyone wishing to investigate his growing renown. Here, he conducts the Saint Tikhon Choir, which is quite a virtuoso group on its own and easily handles the Orthodox vocal extremes -- the basso profundo sound and the soaring soprano soloists -- written into Sheehan's score. There is a synergy between Sheehan and the singers of the kind that often comes with a sense of shared mission, and best of all is the...
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