Music for the spirit and the soul

Chipman,
I'll go in search of the "officium" disc right now. Thank you for the recommendation. I lived in Paris years ago, and my wife and I lived in Florence about three years ago. And when there are enough zeros again in the bank account, we will be living in Europe again, at least for most of the year.

Thanks to everyone for all of the recommendations. I'm printing out this page in order to keep a checklist of must-buy discs.
All the best,
Howard

Marco,
I enjoy Arvo Part and have "De Profundis" with the Theater of Voices, and Hilliard Ensembles take on Miserere which is perhaps one of the grim but moving pieces of music.
Don't know Gavin Bryers so will have to check it out - any disc in particular ?
As for Bach, I'm not buying any more until I get through my Teldec Complete Bach 2000 collection....and with all these new suggestions/distractions I'm not going to get any further!

Howard,
Now I'm jealouse! I adore Italy, especially Florence and Bergamo, the Northern Lakes, Venice.....

John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Sunship, First Meditations, and Transitions are all excellent recordings of The Quartet--McCoy, Elven, Jimmy, and Trane. These were recorded, I believe, from late '63 through '65. It is my favorite period of Coltrane's career.

Everytime I listen to one of these sides, I take a moment at the end to reflect on the totality of what I have just heard. I don't know, but there isn't too much other music that does this to me.

Faure's Requiem, in it orignal version sung in a chapel by a small group, Herreweghe's 1st version on Harmonia Mundi, is as intimate and moving as Requiems come. Subsequently he did a version for a larger orchestra which is also outstanding and includes and excellent Symphony in D Minor. You can take your pick and not be disappointed.

Sacred Treasures: Choral Masterworks from Russia on the Hearts of Space label is tremendous - exactly what you're looking for. The music is unbelievable beautiful and the recording and performances are absolutely first rate.