SACRED/WORLD

 
One of the year’s most beautiful and ecumenical world music recordings is “Sacred Bridges,” with English a cappella sextet The King’s Singers and Mideastern musical ensemble Sarband. 

The two tackle 16^th and 17^th century music based on Psalms of David, scared texts revered by Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  The groups perform works from all three faiths sung in French, Turkish, and Hebrew.  Through gorgeous polyphonic vocals set in arrangements that connect the Occident with the Orient, “Sacred Bridges” testifies to the common heritage, liturgical foundations and monotheism shared by these sometimes warring faiths.  What will strike the listener is how similar, yet distinct, the musical styles are. 

But no matter the language of faith, the performances are reverent, alive and transcendental, tapping into Psalms’ mystery, beauty and wisdom. 

“Sacred Bridges” is a shimmering recording full of meditative calm, triumph and spirituality that will appeal to the reverent and the secular.  It proves that these faiths have enough common ground for out-of-this-world harmony. 

Eric Feber- The pilot