Colors of Love

Chanticleer is a male vocal group, and these people do an excellent job of singing the songs on this album. All of the songs sung by Chanticleer on this album are sung a cappella; the interpretations and the intonations are excellently performed. The third track, Taverner’s Village Wedding, is sung without a flaw. This is difficult music to sing, yet, Chanticleer pulls it off, from all appearances, effortlessly. It is no wonder that Chanticleer won a Grammy award for this album. The sound quality here is outstanding; the stereo separation of the voices and the limited reverberation employed works well. When all is said and done, I give this album a 10/10 score for artistic excellence and superb sound quality.

Every track on this CD was overlaid with a scratching sound. The CD looks physically fine, but plays with that terrible sound. I even checked to make sure my player had not broken. No, it is this defective CD. Returned through Amazon, which is a simple process.

"Colorful" collection of repertoire. Nice balance between experimental modern (requires serious listening) and more traditional modern. One of Chanticleer's best, in my opinion.

Steve Barnett's production of this impeccably "groomed" masterpiece was invincable! I can't wait to hear them perform these works in public!

This compilation is essential listening, especially (but not exclusively) for those already introduced to the marvels of Chanticleer. It features a wide variety of contemporary madrigals all dedicated to the theme of love. Gorgeous polyphony, entrancing dissonance; the music is very difficult, but Chanticleer's vocalism is exemplary, as always. The whole feel of the album takes some getting used to for the uninitiated. After a few listenings, though, one can fully perceive its unique and sublime beauty.Highlights abound. The first three tracks, all lullabies by Steven Stucky, are brilliantly executed, but it is track four, Village Wedding by John Taverner, that first knocked my socks off. It seems to represent the absolutely ideal match between composer and performer, between written and sung text. It consists of a wonderful poem by Greek poet Angelos Sikelianos, with a recurring excerpt from the Eastern Orthodox wedding ceremony interspersed throughout. Taverner is himself a member of the Eastern Orthodox church, and the song is as much a spiritual experience as a musical one.Another fantastic piece is Words of the Sun, by Chinese composer Zhou Long. It is probably the most accessible song on the CD, with numerous lovely subtleties and nuances that can be fully appreciated after multiple exposures.Lastly, I'd like to express my sincere conviction that In Time Of (by Steven Sametz, set to a poem by E.E. Cummings) is the single most gorgeous piece of music I have ever had the great fortune to hear. The sonority is perfectly balanced, each arching phrase better than the one before. Please, for the sake of pure unadulterated beauty, purchase this CD. You will not regret it.

Chanticleer must surely be the greatest vocal chamber group in America. On this disc, the virtuosity of these twelve men is stretched to all possible limits in a programme of highly contrating contemporary works. Every item on this disc is a premiere recording, and it all depends on what you like. I, of course, find the Tavener "Village Wedding" to be a very arresting piece and Chanticleer prove themselves to be worthy interpreters of it. The incomparable music of Augusta Read Thomas, with very fierce dissonances, deliciously "blue" melodies and even wild sporadic laughter at one point, could not be more different that the Tavener, nor for that matter could the exquisite works by the Japanese composer Zhou Long or the colourful madrigal-like pieces by Steven Stucky. Yet, whatever you like or don't like about it, all this music is united by the incredible talents of this group. I was at times staggered by their flexibility and meticulousness.This CD makes for utterly rewarding listening, containing as it does many surprises and an eclectic range of pieces. Congratulations to Chanticleer and Teldec for making it- let's hope for more like it in the future!