Music for the spirit and the soul

This thread is getting interesting and I thought I was the only one listening to this stuff !
Jax2, I'll be interested to know how you got into the Sibil as this is not really mainstream.
My route was quite bizzare. I have been a fan of record label 4AD with 2 of my favourite vocalists, Elisabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins and Lisa Gerard of Dead Can Dance and more recently known for her collaboration in the film Gladiator. DCD released an album in 1990 called AION a very moving atmosperic album with Gerard's vocals. One track stood out - The Song of the Sibyl. This interpretation, 16th Century Catalan is quite different to those of Figueras but it was enough to get me looking for more...
Anyway, AION by Dead can Dance definitly fits this category.
Back to Elisabeth Fraser, she made one of the most beautiful songs I know 'The Song to the Siren'. With minimal music (strings), her voice has so much passion I could weep...If you can find it on 12" vinyl, this is the one to get, if not then its still worth getting the album by "This Mortal Coil - It'll End In Tears". This Mortal Coil is a project on 4AD where all the artist on the label mix particpate to make music.

Janet Baker sings Mahler on EMI label. One of these Mahler songs by Baker can be heard in the final vignette of "Coffee and Cigarettes," a Jarmusch film of a coupla years ago...

Chipman - My route was more straightforward I suppose (I do enjoy Cocteau Twins, as well as Gerard and DCD - I saw Gerard perform here in Seattle - unforgettable!). I was approached by a good friend to help him upgrade his current system (this seems to happen frequently in this hobby when folks hear what is possible). He and his wife are into Early Music and Sibil was one of the first CD's he brought over to listen to on my system knowing some of the music I enjoyed. We both sat there, dumbfounded, me at the sound of her voice for the first time, and my friend at how present it sounded on my system. He ended up going the way of tubes on further listening and comparisons. At the same time I knew Howard (Boa2), who I'd also lead down the path to hopeless addiction, had a bad case of upgradeidis (I think he still gets the sweats to this day) and was jonesing after some George Wright creations at the time. I hooked him up with my friend Michael who ended up buying Howard's Jolida 502B. He still has it and goes back and forth between that and a Unison Unico. He and his wife are delighted with the improvement in their system (went from some respectable 80's NAD SS gear). It was at that time I think I sent Howard a copy of Sibil. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Marco

Yes, Chipman, I blame Marco for sending me two of my desert island discs (Sibil-la and 'Le Pas du Chat Noir' by Anouar Brahem). As well, he was kind enough to offer methadone-laden talks in order to quell my audio addiction to the point where I may have finally settled into audio nirvana. Oh, but I did see a pair to interconnects I want to try....

And I used to live in Paris, Chipman, so stop teasing me with descriptions of Figueras-filled evenings that are only going to make me jealous!

All the best,
Howard

Ok Howard, no more Figueras stuff except just to say you are now down the slippery slope of acquiring the entire Alia Vox back catalogue and if you include his previous labels recodings Astree/Auvidis/Harmonia Mundi etc you are in trouble as he started recording in the 60's! You can forget about that pair of interconnects....

I too lived in Paris twice totalling 7 years - this is a great place for concerts ! Can I tell you about Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble I attended in the same church.... Try the disc "Officium" - an heavenly match of Sax and a quartet of male voices interpreting early music.