Chopin University Press - Sacrae cantiones (2023)

Sacrae cantiones is the first original album by Dariusz Zimnicki - conductor, composer and animator of choral music, teacher at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music - containing sacred works.

The album opens with a light and cheerful hymn Lauda anima mea, imbued with the joy of the spirit of singing youth. In two cycles of Lenten motets one can hear the influence of the most famous European works on similar themes (Pawel Łukaszewski, Juozas Naujalis, Vytautas Miškinis, Francis Poulenc). The most dramatic items are the musical scenes from the crucifixion: Crucifige and O crux ave. The diptych using texts from Psalm 68 (Regna terrae and Benedictus Dominus) moves with lively rhythms and moody nostalgia. The album is crowned by the pompous two-choir Deus magnus, in which one can hear both a reference to the tradition of dialogue choirs in the Venetian school and contemporary rhythmic ostinatos.

The music was recorded at the Cathedral of St. Jana in Warsaw by the Academic Choir of the Warsaw University of Technology - one of the most active non-professional choirs in Europe, led by the composer. The registration was made by Miłosz Boguć.