Part 3 of Seven Last Words from the Cross by James MacMillan

[123jsbach]

Mankind must have soul, otherwise would we feel bloody tormented enough to create and illustrate ours and others pain?

[dermodeinferno97]

@123jsBach I am perfectly calm :L

[dermodeinferno97]

I am perfectly calm :L

[123jsbach]

Inverted pedal, dropping into that beautiful violin countermelody. A kiss amongst torment and heart break.

[MrMerlin15]

The best MacMillan performance I've seen and heard on youtube is violinist Madeleine Mitchell playing the short 'After the Tryst' on ViolinClassics channel at the BBC Wales Arts Awards - check it out!

MacMillan actually wrote Kiss on Wood for her, before the cello arrangement

[JesseMN1980]

I am very happy to see that almost of you like the music as much as i do. I placed it online because this music goes far beyond religion. I have a Christian background, but religion doesn't play a big role in my life. I'm just a big (choral)music fan. I almost got all of MacMillan's works on cd. He is one of my favorite composers. Others are: Kalevi Aho, Witold Lutoslawski, Robert Simpon, Eduard Tubin, Michael Tippett, etc.

[macgiollabuide]

It would be wonderful to see a video made for this music. MacMillan is one of the greatest contemporary liturgical composers alive. His ability to take these ancient texts and work the original Gregorian Chant into a modern masterpiece is truly a work he should be proud of. 11/10 from me.

[dermodeinferno97]

Hahahaha sorry I thought that this was COD 4 because the picture looks like it's out off the mission "All Ghillied Up" And cause it says James Mcmillan which is the second name off a sniper in COD hahaha , it's still really bad though!!!

[123jsbach]

@dermodeinferno97 Having an opposing opinion is fine. Acting like an idiot is not. You should only post information when you have something worthwhile to say, otherwise you sound like a bigger twit than you possibly are.

[dermodeinferno97]

@123jsbach your right, just isn't my music :L

[dermodeinferno97]

WTF?!?!?! that's shit!

[Howellsfollower]

@Wellymary1's comment:

Please don't take this as an affront, but as a 21st century composer of liturgical music (and a deep traditionalist) I feel that we cannot just "stick" to the masters of before. If we can't keep artistic creativity flowing in our generation, then the works of the former generations will perish.

... just a thought :-)

[macgiollabuide]

@Howellsfollower I'm with you, we have to keep moving. However I think James MacMillan is incredibly gifted at moving while retaining the tradition. This particular piece is based around the Gregorian Chant 'Ecce Lignum' which is sung on Good Friday - 'Behold the Wood' (of the cross on which is hung our salvation). It's a masterful use of the old which creates a link between the centuries - just as liturgy is meant to create a link between the passing and the eternal. An amazing piece indeed

[Wellymary1]

I'm not a musician, just one of the "I know what I like" brigade. This is not to my liking! Sorry! There's so much beautiful liturgical music by Mozart, Schubert, Haydn and others before their time.....can't we stick to that. I'm thinking about Mass settings for the Pope's visit in September. Vivaldi's Gloria is just so triumphant!

[stephencraigen]

@Wellymary1 The entire of the Seven Last Words text begs for a composer's saddest music. Much of this is painful, even agonising to listen to. This is by no means triumphant, as it is not designed to be!

[macgiollabuide]

@Wellymary1 Hope you like what MacMillan did for the Pope - I thought it was pretty fantastic and very worthy. It's also the case that MacMillan's Mass is the first setting of the new texts for the missal so Mozart et al are a little bit out of date for a liturgical celebration - that's not to take away from the stunning settings they have composed for the Mass. I'm quite traditional about liturgy but I thought James MacMillan did well - hope you weren't disappointed!

[bassninjatroy]

I love the pause at 2:13.

[jevalles]

Just heard the complete work performed by the University of Georgia Collegium Musicum and Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Mitos Andaya on Passion Sunday, March 28, 2009 at The Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, Georgia. Utterly perfect and fantastic. I hope someone recorded it...

[UtterRutter]

A highly sexy top C towards the end. Some EPIC music here! Love it.

[mustangersalie]

''verily i say unto thee today, - thou shalt be with me in paradise''

[maxjamesorgans]

@mustangersalie Why waste your time copying what the uploader has said?

[mustangersalie]

@maxjamesorgans - - look at the correct placement of the comma (after the word TODAY ) - makes a lot of difference for the the truth - there was no punctuation in the original greek / hebrew text - the correct placement of the comma changes to its true statement - the thief did not go to paradise that same day - but JESUS said to him on "THAT day" ( the day he died ) that he WILL be with JESUS in paradise at a later time at the resurrection

[lenap87]

amazing

[KaliOm]

Stunning! You can just feel the grief stricken wail. Beautiful!

[JohannesAI]

This piece is amazing, so beautiful and full of tension. Incredible.

[mohaa909]

Just so wonderful, some pieces very slow moving and others very sadly. Just one word: INCREDIBLE

[albets]

Superb!

[BRunkel07]

This is such a great piece. The string writing is absolutely incredible from 6:20 on. Some of the most beautiful and passionate music out there.

[220392123]

I could not agree more! Love him!