Signum Classics are proud to release the King’s Singers fifth disc on Signum; Sacred Bridges. For thousands of years, the biblical Psalter has been the liturgical “heart” of the three main book religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Psalms announce the word of God and, simultaneously, contain the full range of human experience. Jews, Christians and Muslims sing and listen to the same songs of lament and joy, confessions of sin, hymns of praise and adoration. In this project of the King’s Singers and Sarband, psalm settings by composers from three religions give an example of how psalms can be a source of spirituality, a political instrument, a link between tradition and modernity and, above all, a bridge connecting human beings.
Editor’s Choice "...Altogether a fascinating, attractive, beautifully performed-album." Barry Witherden - Gramophone - March 2006
"... An intriguing disc, and far more than a curiosity." CB
"The King’s Singers, the superlative vocal sextet that has retained immaculate blend, perfect tuning and crystal diction even after 37 years of constant touring and personnel changes, joins forces with Sarband, an ensemble of Turkish instrumentalists, to create an extraordinary CD of settings of the Psalms, the shared heritage of Christians, Jews and Arabs. They transform unison chants from the Genevan Psalter (1562) into rich contrapuntal settings by Sweelinck and Goudimel or wafting zither-based elaborations by Ali Ufki, a 17th century Polish convert. They also swap elements, with the basses doubling Sarband’s evocative nasal vocalising, and they demonstrate the Renaissance Jewish community’s enthusiasm for polyphony through the bold Hebrew settings of Salomone Rossi. Superb performances across the cultural divide show that great art transcends political differences. May thine enemy buy it also." ***** Rick Jones
