OTTORINO RESPIGHI (1879-1936): Lauda per la Natività del Signore for Chorus, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Bassoons, Triangle and Piano, LÁSZLÓ LAJTHA (1892-1963): Par où est passé le chant?, Op. 32, Dialogue vespéral - Les montagnards, Op. 16, 2 chœurs, Op. 23.

Description: Respighi's 1930 piece sets texts by the 13th century Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi in a simple, pastoral style with all of the expected archaizing features one has become familiar with in this aspect of his personal language (madrigal-like choruses, Monteverdian arioso, Gregorian chant and fugato). Lajtha's unaccompanied works stand out from others in the genre by his Hungarian contemporaries for eschewing both the Austro-German liedertafel tradition and strict Palestrinan part-writing, opting instead for weaving elements of Bachian counterpoint with French Impressionism and post-impressionistic neo-classical styles. Italian/Hungarian-English texts. Chamber Ensemble, Debrecen Kodály Chorus; Péter Erdei, István Ella (Lajtha).