The Swingle Singers Anthology

The Swingle Singers may be said to combine a certain type of American music from the first part of the twentieth century with the culture of "old" Europe. Contrary to what one might imagine, this was originally a French group, founded in 1962 and directed by Ward Swingle, an American living in Paris. The configuration of the group has never changed: eight singers (two each of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass-baritone) covering between them the whole of the vocal and "instrumental" range demanded by the adaptations or transpositions which, together with works created specially for them, go to make up their repertoire.

Notes & Reviews:

Since being founded by tenor and leader Ward Swingle in the 1960s, the Swingle Singers have been regarded as one of the most brilliant a cappella vocal ensembles in the world. The group's virtuosic repertoire developed over decades from a core body of vocal arrangements, primarily of the music of J.S. Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, to a more extensive catalog of pieces, including popular hits, early music, folk songs, and fresh takes on other classical composers. The four discs in Virgin's The Swingle Singers cover all this ground, so it is as comprehensive a survey of this dynamic octet as can be without over-emphasizing any one area. Because the Swingle Singers made their name through jazzed-up versions of Bach and Mozart, it's easy to stereotype them as an enormously talented but gimmicky ensemble that is more for fun than for serious listening. But it takes considerable skill and stamina to vocalize the whole of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor and extraordinary versatility to jump from literally breathtaking arrangements of Bach fugues to songs by Lennon and McCartney, themes by Henry Mancini, international folk ballads, piano pieces by Debussy, and an edited but highly entertaining version of the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky; such talent has to be taken seriously and appreciated as art. The performances in this set differ, whether as studio or concert recordings with various dates, but the all-digital sound is quite evenly balanced over the tracks, so few volume adjustments are required. ~Blair Sanderson

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Works Details

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K. 620 :: Overture

Running Time: 3 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1791

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Symphony no 40 in G minor, K 550

Running Time: 10 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Orchestral
Written: 1788

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Ave verum corpus

Running Time: 2 min. 38 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Choral
Written: 1791

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Works :: String Quartet in G major

Running Time: 4 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Classical

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Così fan tutte, K 588 :: Un aura amorosa

Running Time: 4 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Written: 1790

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Eine kleine Nachtmusik :: Finale

Running Time: 2 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Written: 1787

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Concerto for Horn no 4 :: Finale

Running Time: 3 min. 20 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Concerto
Written: 1786

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Don Giovanni :: Canzonetta

Running Time: 2 min. 4 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1787

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Così fan tutte, K 588 :: Terzettino

Running Time: 2 min. 58 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Written: 1790

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Gigue for Keyboard in G major, K 574

Running Time: 1 min. 45 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Written: 1789

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Concerto for Piano no 21 :: Andante

Running Time: 3 min. 58 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Concerto
Written: 1785

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Requiem for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, K. 626

Running Time: 2 min. 16 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Choral
Written: 1791

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Sonata for Piano in A major :: Finale

Notes: Composition written: 1783.
Running Time: 2 min. 10 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Written: 1783

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Work(s) :: Fantasia in F minor and major

Running Time: 5 min. 51 sec.
Period Time: Classical

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 720

Running Time: 1 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: by 1695

Bach, Johann Christoph : Work(s) :: Fantasia and fugue

Running Time: 2 min. 40 sec.
Period Time: Baroque

Bach, Johann Sebastian : The Well-Tempered Clavier :: Prelude 18

Running Time: 2 min. 59 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1722-1740

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Cantata no 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 140 (BC A166)

Running Time: 3 min. 15 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 11/25/1731

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 373 (BC F133)

Running Time: 2 min. 3 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: by 1751

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Orgelbüchlein

Running Time: 1 min. 57 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1713-1715

Bach, Johann Sebastian : In dulci jubilo, BWV 368

Running Time: 1 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: by 1751

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Sonata no 2 for unaccompanied violin :: Andante

Running Time: 3 min. 37 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1720

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Brandenburg Concerto no 3 in G major, BWV 1048 :: 1st movement

Running Time: 2 min. 44 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Form: Orchestral
Written: 03/24/1721

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Cantata no 208, "Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!" BWV 208 :: Schafe können sicher weiden (Sheep may safely graze)

Running Time: 4 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 02/23/1713

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Suite no 2 :: Badinerie

Running Time: 1 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1738-1739

Bach, Johann Sebastian : The Well-Tempered Clavier :: Fugue 8

Running Time: 2 min. 6 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1722-1740

Bach, Johann Christoph : Work(s) :: Three-part invention

Running Time: 2 min. 51 sec.
Period Time: Baroque

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Mass in B minor :: Et resurrexit

Running Time: 2 min. 42 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Form: Choral
Written: 1748-1749

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Bist du bei mir, aria arranged for voice & continuo (after Gottfried Stölzel), BWV 508

Running Time: 2 min. 52 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Form: Vocal
Written: 1722-1725

Bach, Johann Sebastian : St. Matthew Passion :: Blute nur

Running Time: 3 min. 39 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1727

Bach, Johann Christoph : Work(s) :: Organ Fuge

Running Time: 2 min. 3 sec.
Period Time: Baroque

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Suite no 3 :: Air (Air on a G string)

Running Time: 4 min. 22 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1731

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Prelude and Fugue for Organ in D major, BWV 532

Running Time: 2 min. 24 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: by 1710

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Cantata no 60, "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort" BWV 60 :: Es ist genug

Running Time: 1 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Form: Cantata/Oratorio
Written: 11/07/1723

Rossini, Gioachino : Guillaume Tell

Running Time: 2 min. 58 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1829

Henry, King VIII : Pastimes With Good Company

Running Time: 2 min. 20 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Debussy, Claude : Chansons (3) de Charles d'Orléans

Running Time: 1 min. 53 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1898

Debussy, Claude : Quant j'ai ouy le tambourin sonner, for chorus, L. 92/2

Running Time: 1 min. 47 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1908

Debussy, Claude : Yver, vous n'estes qu'un villain, for chorus, L. 92/3

Running Time: 2 min. 5 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1898

Lennon, John : The Fool on the Hill

Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Paul McCartney (1942 - ).
Running Time: 4 min. 54 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1967

Lennon, John : Lady Madonna

Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Paul McCartney (1942 - ).
Running Time: 3 min. 33 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Lennon, John : Day tripper

Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Paul McCartney (1942 - ).
Running Time: 2 min. 21 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Lennon, John : Blackbird

Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Paul McCartney (1942 - ).
Running Time: 4 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Leon René (1902 - 1982) : Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat

Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Otis Rene.
Running Time: 2 min. 57 sec.
Period Time: Modern

Gershwin, George : Porgy and Bess

Running Time: 3 min. 28 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1935

Sondheim, Stephen : Another Hundred People, song (for the musical Company)

Running Time: 1 min. 59 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Debussy, Claude : Clair de lune

Running Time: 4 min. 41 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1890-1905

Mancini, Henry : Peter Gunn Theme

Running Time: 2 min. 35 sec.
Period Time: Modern

Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich : 1812 Overture, Op. 49

Running Time: 7 min. 56 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Orchestral
Written: 1880

Traditional, Peruvian : Cachapaya

Running Time: 2 min. 19 sec.

Traditional, American : Star of the County Down

Running Time: 2 min. 33 sec.

Argentinian, Traditional : El Paisanito

Running Time: 3 min. 40 sec.

Traditional, Chilean : De Punta y Taco

Running Time: 2 min. 23 sec.

Welsh Traditional : The Ash Grove (The Master Has Come), song (a.k.a. "Llwyn onn")

Running Time: 3 min. 12 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Written: by 1728

Welsh Traditional : David of the White Rock (Dafydd y Garreg Wen), folk song

Running Time: 3 min. 28 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance
Written: by 1794

Traditional : The Drunken Sailor

Running Time: 2 min. 38 sec.

Anonymous : Ciao, Bella, Ciao

Running Time: 3 min. 54 sec.

Anonymous, French : L' amour de moi, song

Running Time: 3 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance
Written: 14th Century

Anonymous : Country Dances

Running Time: 3 min. 32 sec.

Traditional, Australian : Waltzing Matilda, folk song

Running Time: 3 min. 23 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Vocal
Written: 1895

Traditional, Irish : Londonderry Air (Danny Boy), folk song

Running Time: 3 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance
Form: Vocal
Written: by 1855

Traditional, Scottish : Charlie Is My Darling, folk song

Running Time: 2 min. 9 sec.
Form: Vocal

Traditional, Scottish : Loch Lomond

Running Time: 3 min. 57 sec.
Written: by 1841

Traditional, Irish : Sally Gardens

Running Time: 2 min. 45 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Traditional Spiritual : Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho

Running Time: 3 min. 2 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: by 1865

Anonymous : Viel Freuden Mit Sich Bringet

Running Time: 3 min. 15 sec.

Traditional, English : Bushes and briars, folk song

Running Time: 2 min. 52 sec.

Anonymous : Säkkijärven polkka

Running Time: 3 min. 22 sec.

Traditional, Swedish : Vem kan segla förutan vind? (Who Can Sail Without Wind?)

Running Time: 2 min. 57 sec.

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