November 2017 - Featured Playlist: Help From Heaven

Nobody knows what happens after we die, but there sure are a lot of theories and beliefs. This question has inspired countless religions, philosophies, works of art, and classics of literature--basically everything that helps us interact and cope with the things science cannot currently explain.

Many belief systems include a heaven or paradise where righteous adherents go after death, and indeed this has given hope to many who have lived their lives in desperate situations. Sometimes that amounts to a hope for better things during life, and for others it means an acceptance of the current life's trials in anticipation of something greater in the afterlife.

This month we offer the counterpart to last month's playlist, Dance With Devils. We're taking a look at how many composers have processed their understanding of what comes after death, the interaction with the Divine on Earth, and that very human desire for Help From Heaven.

To hear the playlist, access NML as usual, go to the Playlists section, and select the Playlist of the Month folder under the Themed Playlists tab. If you are on your institution's premises, you may also be able to access it if you CLICK HERE.

1. Traditional

Heaven, Heaven
Marian Anderson; Kosti Vehanen
RCA - 888880760258

2. Joseph Philbrick Webster

Sweet By and By

Anonymous 4

Harmonia Mundi - HMU807326DI

3. Michael Tippett

A Child of Our Time, Part III: A Spiritual: Deep River

London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra; Richard Hickox

Chandos - CHAN9123

4. Charles Ives
General William Booth Enters into Heaven
San Francisco Symphony Chorus and Orchestra; Michael Tilson Thomas
RCA - 888880761088

5. Ge Gan-Ru

String Quartet No. 4, "Angel Suite": I. Cherub
ModernWorks
Naxos - 8.570603

6. Tan Dun

Symphony 1997, "Heaven Earth Mankind": Song of Peace

Yo-Yo-Ma; Yip's Children's Choir; Hong Kong Philharmonic; Tan Dun

Sony Classical - 886443942226

7. Hilarion Alfeyev

Stabat Mater: Paradisi Gloria

Academy of Choral Art Choir; National Phil. of Russia; Vladimir Spivakov

Melodiya - MELCD1002419

8. Pavel Chesnokov
Praise the Lord from the Heavens
Conspiriare; Craig Hella Johnson
Harmonia Mundi - HMU807526DI

9. Maximilian Steinberg

Passion Week: Da molchit fsiakaya plot
The Clarion Choir; Steven Fox
Naxos - 8.573665

10. Felix Mendelssohn

Elijah: Seraphim standen uber ihm/Heilig, heilig, heilig ist Gott

Leipzig MDR Radio Choir and Symphony Orchestra; Jun Märkl

Naxos - 8.572228-29

11. Franz Joseph Haydn

Die Schopfung: Die Himmel erzahlen die Ehre Gottes

Cologne Vocal Ensemble; Capella Augustina; Andreas Spering

Naxos - 8.557380-81

12. Chiara Margarita Cozzolani
Concerti sacri: Psallite, superi
Musica Secreta; John Toll
Linn - CKD113

13. Anonymous

Missa de angelis: Gloria (Mode V)
Richard Cragg; Gloriae Dei Cantores
Paraclete - GDCD051

14. John Tavener

Song of the Angel

Patricia Rozario; Academy of Ancient Music; Paul Goodwin

Harmonia Mundi - HMU907231DI

15. Arvo Pärt

Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten

Antal Eisrich; Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Tamás Benedek

Naxos - 8.558182-83

16. Sofia Gubaidulina
St. John Easter: I Saw a New Heaven and a New Earth
Musikhochschule Trossingen Kammerchor; Stuttgart Radio Symphony
Haenssler Classic - CD98.289

17. Einojuhani Rautavaara

Symphony No. 7, "Angel of Light": IV. Pesante
Royal Scottish National Orchestra; Hannu Koivula
Naxos - 8.555814

18. Victoria Borisova-Ollas

Symphony No. 1, "The Triumph of Heaven": I. --

Norrköping Symphony; Mats Rondin

Phono Suecia - PS-CD171

19. Ofer Ben-Amots

Celestial Dialogues: Celestial freylekh

David Krakauer; Barcelona Symphony; Catalonia National Orchestra

Naxos - 8.559421

20. Eriks Ešenvalds
Passion and Resurrection: Part IV
Hannah Consenz; Portland State Uni. Chamber Choir, String Ensemble
Naxos - 8.579008

21. Edward Elgar

The Dream of Gerontius, Part II: Softly and gently
Hallé Choir and Orchestra; Mark Elder
Hallé - CDHLD7520

22. Roberta Martin

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

The Five Blind Boys of Alabama

Nonesuch - 603497105762

23. William Batchelder Bradbury

Angel Band

Marsha Genensky; Anonymous 4

Harmonia Mundi - HMU807326DI

24. Roland Hayes
Dream of Heaven: Going Up to Heaven
Roland Hayes; Reginald Boardman
Varese Sarabande - OVC-6022





Each month, Naxos Music Library presents a themed playlist for our subscribers to enjoy. We know that a database of over 2 million tracks can be a bit daunting, so we'd like to highlight some of the amazing music that is available to you. Let it kickstart discovery!