The Ultimate Most Relaxing Sacred Music in the Universe

1	Cantata No. 147, "Herz un / Johann Sebastian Bac
2	Concerto Il riposo, conce / Antonio Vivaldi
3	Concerto Grosso in C majo / Francesco Manfredini
4	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56 / George Frederick Han
5	Concerto Grosso in G mino / Arcangelo Corelli
6	Nun komm der Heiden Heila / Johann Sebastian Bac
7	Concerto Grosso in F mino / Pietro Antonio Locat
8	Meditation on Prelude No. / Charles Gounod
9	Concerto Grosso in C majo / Francesco Manfredini
10	Wachet auf, ruft uns die / Johann Sebastian Bac
11	Concerto Grosso in F mino / Pietro Antonio Locat
12	From Jewish Life, sketche / Ernest Bloch
13	Requiem, for 2 solo voice / Gabriel Fauré
The Ultimate Most Relaxing Sacred Music in the Universe
1.	Cantata No. 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," BWV 147 (BC A174): Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring 3:51
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
2.	Concerto Il riposo, concerto per il Santissimo Natale, for violin, strings & continuo in E major, RV 270: 1. Allegro molto moderato 5:03
	Composed by Antonio Vivaldi
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
3.	Concerto Grosso in C major, Op. 3/12 "Christmas Pastorale": 2. Largo 2:34
	Composed by Francesco Manfredini
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
4.	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Pifa 2:49
	Composed by George Frideric Handel
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
5.	Concerto Grosso in G minor ("Christmas Concerto"), Op. 6/8: 6. Largo - Pastorale ad libitum 3:31
	Composed by Arcangelo Corelli
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
6.	Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (II), chorale prelude for organ (Achtzehn Choräle No. 8), BWV 659 (BC K82) 5:26
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Helmuth Rilling
7.	Concerto Grosso in F minor ("Christmas Concerto "), Op. 1/8: 7. Pastorale; Andante 3:38
	Composed by Pietro Antonio Locatelli
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
8.	Meditation on Prelude No. 1 of Bach, for violin or cello & piano with organ or cello ad lib. (or other instrumental arrangement) 4:35
	Composed by Charles Gounod
	Performed by Maxence Larrieu and Susanna Mildonian
	Additional Notes: arranged for flute & harp
9.	Concerto Grosso in C major, Op. 3/12 "Christmas Pastorale": 1. Largo (Pastorale per il Santissimo Natale) 4:20
	Composed by Francesco Manfredini
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
10.	Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 1), BWV 645 (BC K22) 4:59
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Helmuth Rilling
11.	Concerto Grosso in F minor ("Christmas Concerto "), Op. 1/8: 2. Grave 2:05
	Composed by Pietro Antonio Locatelli
	Performed by I Solisti Italiani
12.	From Jewish Life, sketches (3) for cello & piano: 1. Prayer 4:20
	Composed by Bloch
	Performed by Janos Starker and Shuku Iwashaki
13.	Requiem, for 2 solo voices, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 48: Agnus Dei 5:18
	Composed by Gabriel Fauré
	Performed by Lyon National Opera Chorus, Jean-Louis Gil, Lyon National Orchestra, Gaële Le Roi and François Le Roux
	Conducted by Emmanuel Krivine

All Music Guide

Since the term sacred music usually suggests chants, hymns, motets, cantatas, and other forms of religious vocal and choral music, it seems a little odd that Denon's The Ultimate Most Relaxing Sacred Music in the Universe should be made up of mostly instrumental selections, with the only choral track being the Agnus Dei from Gabriel Fauré's "Requiem." Granted, there are religious connections to all the works, whether they are chorale preludes by J.S. Bach, movements from Christmas "Concertos" by Antonio Vivaldi, Francesco Manfredini, and Pietro Locatelli, or non-liturgical meditations, such as the Bach/Gounod "Ave Maria," the Pifa from Handel's "Messiah," and the "Prayer" by Ernest Bloch. Listeners will find that much of the program is focused on Baroque music of Catholic or Lutheran origins and that music from other traditions is under-represented or missing outright, so the true universality of this collection can be called into question. Still, the music is performed with elegance and taste, and the performances by Denon's top artists, including organist Helmuth Rilling, cellist Janos Starker, and I Solisti Italiani, among others, are up to the label's usual high standards. The sound quality of this disc is well-balanced and even in dynamics, so the volume won't require any emergency adjustments. Blair Sanderson