From the celebrated classics to the rare recordings, this set brings together 600 years of the Magnificat. Short for Magnificat anima mea Dominum (My soul doth magnify the Lord), it’s also known as The Song of Mary and The Canticle of Mary and makes up part of the Catholic liturgy and Anglican canticles. The Magnificat comes from Luke I: 46-55 and conveys the Virgin Mary’s elation after the revelation that she is carrying the son of God. Throughout the centuries composers have tried their hand at setting this passage to music. This set takes the listener on a trip through time as we begin in the Medieval and Renaissance eras with Josquin, Gibbons and Dowland, passing via Bach, Mozart and Liszt, before arriving at present day interpretations of the sacred text.
The wide time-span and geographies of the composers in this release provide some interesting comparisons. The set opens with a selection of early music composers, the pioneers of choral music, among them Giovanni Legrenzi who was enormously influential in the development of the Italian Baroque style and counted Vivaldi among his students, the latter also featuring on this set. Other influential figures include Gombert, a Franco-Flemish composer who employs double counterpoint, a technique later beloved by Bach, while Dutch composer Adrian Willaert, active during the same era as Gombert, based himself in Venice and was a pioneer in the use of antiphonal effects. Composers from across Europe came to learn from Willaert and took his teachings back to their native countries. Nourished by cross-cultural exchanges, musical in Europe flourished, and in the rest of the release we hear evidence of the ripple effect generated by these early music trail blazers.
The contributions to the Magnificat by 18th- and 19th-century composers such as Mendelssohn, Schubert and Liszt have often been overlooked in favour of their better-known piano works, but they are given due attention here. From an early age Mendelssohn was heavily influenced by Bach, and he composed his own Magnificat at the age of 13. From among the modern composers to have experimented with setting music for the Magnificat, Arvo Pärt is notable for employing his distinctive and meditative compositional procedure, which he calls ‘tintinnabuli’, inspired by the sound of bells. Like Pärt, Kenneth Leighton is also famous for his religious music. His desire to expand his ‘narrowly British’ background and subsequent study under Goffredo Petrassi in Rome makes his music an exciting melting pot of European influences.
This exquisite collection traces the development of choral music through the lens of the Magnificat. Composers able to move and work freely in Europe built on the ideas of their contemporaries blended with those from their native home, while future composers would take their teachings further and adjust them to suit their own ideals. These composers are separated by geography and time, but are unified in their musical quest for divine perfection.
“My Soul magnifies the Lord”, these are the first words of the Magnificat, the earliest known Maria Hymn, incorporated in the Vespers of the Latin Liturgy. It is a song of praise of Maria, thanking the Lord for his mercy in elevating her humble state into the blissful state of pregnancy, through which all future generations will be blessed.
Through all centuries composers have been inspired by the hopeful and glorious message of the Magnificat. This extensive set presents Magnificat setting be a staggering number of 66 composers, from Flemish School Renaissance composers Josquin, Gombert, Fairfax, Tallis, Tomkins, Mundy to Baroque masters Monteverdi, Gabrieli, Vivaldi, Telemann, Bach, to the Romantic Era with Mendelssohn, Schubert, Liszt, Bruckner into the 20th century composers Distler, Penderecki, Tavener, Finzi, and many others.
Another inspiring set of Sacred Music by Brilliant Classics, previous sets having presented the Requiem and Stabat Mater.
Disk 1
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1Josquin Des Prez: Magnificat
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2Pierre De La Rue: Magnificat tone IV: I. Magnificat – Et exultavit
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3Pierre De La Rue: Magnificat tone IV: II. Quia respexit – Quia fecit
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4Pierre De La Rue: Magnificat tone IV: III. Et misericordia – Fecit potentiam
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5Pierre De La Rue: Magnificat tone IV: IV. Deposuit potentes – Esurientes
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6Pierre De La Rue: Magnificat tone IV: V. Suscepit Israel – Sicut locutus
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7Pierre De La Rue: Magnificat tone IV: VI. Gloria Patri – Sicut erat – Antiphon. “Sancta Maria succurre miseris”
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8Nicolas Gombert: Magnificat primi toni
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9Adriaan Willaert: Magnificat sexti toni
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10Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat secundi toni: I. Magnificat – Et exultavit
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11Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat secundi toni: II. Quia respexit – Quia fecit
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12Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat secundi toni: III. Et misericordia – Fecit potentiam
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13Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat secundi toni: IV. Deposuit potentes – Esurientes
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14Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat secundi toni: V. Suscepit Israel – Sicut locutus
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Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat secundi toni: VI. Gloria Patri – Sicut erat
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16Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat sexti toni: I. Magnificat – Et exultavit
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17Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat sexti toni: II. Quia respexit – Quia fecit
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18Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat sexti toni: III. Et misericordia – Fecit potentiam
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19Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat sexti toni: IV. Deposuit potentes – Esurientes
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20Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat sexti toni: V. Suscepit Israel – Sicut locutus est
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21Jacobus Vaet: Magnificat sexti toni: VI. Gloria Patri – Sicut erat
Disk 2
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1William Mundy: Magnificat
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2Robert Fayrfax: Magnificat regale
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3Orlando Gibbons: Magnificat in F Major
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4Thomas Tomkins: Magnificat
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5Robert Parsons: Magnificat
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6Thomas Tallis: Magnificat
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7Thomas Tallis: Magnificat
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8Thomas Tallis: Magnificat
Disk 3
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1Girolamo Cavazzoni: Magnificat primi toni
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2Claudio Merulo: Magnificat del secondo tono
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3Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: I. Antiphona ad magnificat. Virgo prudentissima
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Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: II. Magnificat
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5Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: III. Et exultavit
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6Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: IV. Quia respexit
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7Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: V. Quia fecit
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8Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: VI. Et misericordia
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9Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: VII. Fecit potentiam
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10Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: VIII. Deposuit potentes
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11Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: IX. Esurientes
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12Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: X. Suscepit Israel
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13Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: XI. Sicut locutus
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14Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: XII. Gloria patri
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15Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: XIII. Sicut erat
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16Claudio Monteverdi: Magnificat SV 206:13: XIV. Antiphona ad Magnificat. Virgo prudentissima
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17Adriano Banchieri: Nuovi pensieri ecclesiastici, Book 3, Op. 35: I. Magnificat primi toni
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18Costanzo Porta: Magnificat a8
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19Giovanni Battista Fasolo: Magnificat sexti toni in F Major, Op. 8 No. 28
Disk 4
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1Luca Marenzio: Magnificat
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Francesco Cavalli: Musiche sacre: XVIII. Magnificat a8
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3Orazio Benevolo: Magnificat
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4Giacomo Antonio Perti: Magnificat
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5Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: I. Magnificat
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6Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: II. Et exultavit
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7Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: III. Quia respexit
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8Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: IV. Quia fecit
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9Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: V. Et misericordia
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10Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: VI. Fecit potentiam
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11Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: VII. Deposuit potentes
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12Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: VIII. Esurientes
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13Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: IX. Suscepit Israel
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14Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: X. Sicut locutus
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15Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: XI. Gloria patri
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16Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: XII. Sicut erat
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17Pirro Capacelli Albergati: Magnificat: XIII. Amen
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18Amante Franzoni: Magnificat
Disk 5
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1Giovanni Legrenzi: Concerti musicali per uso di chiesa, Op. 1: I. Magnificat
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2Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina: Magnificat sexti toni a6
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3Maurizio Cazzati: Salmi e messa, Op. 1: I. Magnificat
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4Giovanni Gabrieli: Sacrae symphoniae II: XXVII. Magnificat a14
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5Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: I. Sinfonia
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6Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: II. Magnificat
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7Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: III. Et exultavit
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8Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: IV. Quia respexit
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9Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: V. Quia fecit
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10Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: VI. Et misericordia
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11Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: VII. Fecit potentiam
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12Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: VIII. Deposuit potentes
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13Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: IX. Esurientes
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14Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: X. Suscepit Israel
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15Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: XI. Sicut locutus
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16Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: XII. Gloria patri
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17Giovanni Battista Bassani: Armonici entusiasmi di Davide, Op. 9: XIII. Sicut erat
Disk 6
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1Cristóbal De Morales: Magnificat octavi toni
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2Joan Baptista Cabanilles: Magnificat a12
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3Manuel Cardoso: Magnificat secundi toni
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4Sebastián De Vivanco: Magnificat octavi toni
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5Francesco Durante: Magnificat in B-Flat Major: I. Magnificat
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6Francesco Durante: Magnificat in B-Flat Major: II. Et misericordia
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7Francesco Durante: Magnificat in B-Flat Major: III. Deposuit
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8Francesco Durante: Magnificat in B-Flat Major: IV. Suscepit Israel
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9Francesco Durante: Magnificat in B-Flat Major: V. Sicut locutus est
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10Francesco Durante: Magnificat in B-Flat Major: VI. Sicut erat
Disk 7
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1Ludwig Senfl: Communio. Beatam me dicent – Magnificat sexti toni
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2Hieronymus Praetorius: Magnificat
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3Heinrich Schütz: Magnificat anima mea, SWV468
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4Johann David Heinichen: Magnificat in A Major, S.90: I. Magnificat anima mea – Et exsultavit
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5Johann David Heinichen: Magnificat in A Major, S.90: II. Quia respexit
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6Johann David Heinichen: Magnificat in A Major, S.90: III. Quia fecit mihi magna
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7Johann David Heinichen: Magnificat in A Major, S.90: IV. Fecit potentiam
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8Johann David Heinichen: Magnificat in A Major, S.90: V. Suscepit Israel
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9Johann David Heinichen: Magnificat in A Major, S.90: VI. Gloria Patri – Sicut erat
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10Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: I. Magnificat anima mea
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11Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: II. Et exsultavit spiritus meus
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12Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: III. Quia respexit humilitatem
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13Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: IV. Vom Himmel hoch
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14Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: V. Quia fecit mihi magna
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15Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: VI. Freut euch und jubilieret
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16Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: VII. Et misericordia eius
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17Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: VIII. Fecit potentiam
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18Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: IX. Gloria in excelsis deo
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19Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: X. Suscepit Israel
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20Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: XI. Sicut locutus est
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21Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: XII. Virga lesse
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22Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: XIII. Gloria patri
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23Johann Kuhnau: Magnificat mit weihnachtlichen Einlagesätzen: XIV. Sicut erat in principio
Disk 8
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1Alessandro Scarlatti: Magnificat del primo tono
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2Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Magnificat, H.72
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3Jean Nicolas Geoffroy: Magnificat du premier ton
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4Johann Philipp Krieger: Magnificat in C Major
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5Jan Dismas Zelenka: Magnificat in D Major, ZWV 108: I. Magnificat
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6Henk Badings: Magnificat in D Major, ZWV 108: II. Suscepit Israel
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7Henk Badings: Magnificat in D Major, ZWV 108: III. Amen
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8Dietrich Buxtehude: Magnificat, BuxWV Anh 1
Disk 9
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1Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: I. Magnificat
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2Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: II. Et exultavit
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3Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: III. Et misericordia
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4Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: IV. Fecit potentiam
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5Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: V. Deposuit potentes
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6Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: VI. Esurientes
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7Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: VII. Suscepit Israel
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8Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: VIII. Sicut locutus
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9Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610: IX. Gloria patri
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10Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: I. Sinfonia
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11Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: II. Magnificat
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12Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: III. Quia respexit
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13Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: IV. Quia fecit
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14Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: V. Et misericordia
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15Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: VI. Fecit potentiam
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Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: VII. Dispersit superbos
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17Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: VIII. Esurientes
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18Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: IX. Suscepit Israel
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19Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: X. Sicut locutus
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20Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: XI. Gloria patria
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21Georg Philipp Telemann: Lateinisches Magnificat in C Major, TWV 9:17: XII. Sicut erat
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22Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: I. Magnificat
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23Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: II. Et exultavit
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24Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: III. Quia respexit
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25Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: IV. Quia fecit
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26Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: V. Et misericordia
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27Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: VI. Fecit potentiam
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28Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: VII. Deposuit potentes
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29Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: VIII. Esurientes
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30Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: IX. Suscepit Israel
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31Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: X. Sicut locutus est
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32Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat in G Minor, RV 611: XI. Gloria
Disk 10
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1Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: I. Magnificat
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2Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: II. Et exultavit
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3Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: III. Quia respexit
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4Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: IV. Omnes generationes
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Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: V. Quia fecit
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6Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: VI. Et misericordia
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7Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: VII. Fecit potentiam
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8Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: VIII. Deposuit potentes
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9Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: IX. Esurientes
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10Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: X. Suscepit Israel
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11Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: XI. Sicut locutus
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12Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: XII. Gloria patri
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13Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: I. Magnificat
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14Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: II. Quia respexit
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15Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: III. Quia fecit
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16Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: IV. Et misericordia
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17Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: V. Fecit potentiam
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18Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: VI. Deposuit potentes
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19Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: VII. Suscepit Israel
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20Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: VIII. Gloria patri
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21Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat in D Major, Wq. 215: IX. Sicut erat
Disk 11
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1Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Vesperae solenn es de dominica in C Major, K. 321: VI. Magnificat
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2Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Vesperae solenn es de confessore in C Major, K. 339: VI. Magnificat
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3Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Dixit dominus & magnificat in C Major, K. 193: I. Magnificat
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4Franz Schubert: Magnificat in C Major, D. 486
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5Felix Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D Major: I. Magnificat
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6Felix Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D Major: II. Quia respexit
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7Felix Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D Major: III. Et misericordia
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8Felix Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D Major: IV. Fecit potentiam
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9Felix Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D Major: V. Deposuit potentes
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10Felix Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D Major: VI. Gloria patri
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11Felix Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D Major: VII. Fuga. Sicut erat
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12Franz Liszt: Dante Symphony, S. 109: III. Magnificat
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13Anton Bruckner: Magnificat in B-Flat Major, WAB 24
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14Hugo Distler: Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: I. Magnificat
Disk 12
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1Herbert Norman Howells: Magnificat and nunc dimittis: I. Magnificat
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2Charles Stanford: Magnificat in B-Flat Major, Op. 164
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3Hubert Parry: Evening Service in D Major: I. Magnificat
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4Charles Stanford: Evening Service in C Major, Op. 115: I. Magnificat
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5William Walton: Magnificat and nunc dimittis: I. Magnificat
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6Edmund Rubbra: Magnificat and nunc dimittis in A-Flat Major, Op. 65: I. Magnificat
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7Gerald Finzi: Magnificat, Op. 36
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8Kenneth Leighton: Magnificat and nunc dimittis: I. Magnificat
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9John Travener: Magnificat and nunc dimittis: I. Magnificat
Disk 13
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1Krzysztof Penderecki: Magnificat: I. Magnificat
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2Krzysztof Penderecki: Magnificat: II. Fuga. Quia respexit
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3Krzysztof Penderecki: Magnificat: III. Et misericordia
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4Krzysztof Penderecki: Magnificat: IV. Fecit potentiam
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5Krzysztof Penderecki: Magnificat: V. Passacaglia. Deposuit potentes
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6Krzysztof Penderecki: Magnificat: VI. Sicut locutus
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7Arvo Pärt: Magnificat
Disk 14
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1John Rutter: Magnificat: I. Magnificat
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2John Rutter: Magnificat: II. Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose
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3John Rutter: Magnificat: III. Quia fecit
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4John Rutter: Magnificat: IV. Et misericordia
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5John Rutter: Magnificat: V. Fecit potentiam
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6John Rutter: Magnificat: VI. Esurientes
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7John Rutter: Magnificat: VII. Gloria patri
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8Einojuhani Rautavaara: Magnificat: I. Magnificat
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Einojuhani Rautavaara: Magnificat: II. Quia respexit – Misericordia
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Einojuhani Rautavaara: Magnificat: III. Fecit potentiam
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Einojuhani Rautavaara: Magnificat: IV. Suscepit Israel
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Einojuhani Rautavaara: Magnificat: V. Gloria patri