Customer Reviews
What a waste! - By: PPJ Heuschen, 24 Jun 2008 
I can see how sax fans find this album a revelation but it is a stain on the track record of the Hilliard Ensemble. I can see (kinda) what the involved parties tried to do but it still is painful to listing to it & even with a lot of good will this is simply a waste of money & time. To all those admirers of the Hilliard Ensemble: Don't do it to yourself!
nauseating - By: S. S. Smith, 22 May 2008 This takes the cherries out of two cakes & leaves the cakes behind. They are glace cherries. Horribly sweet.
The sound of perfection - By: Finbar the looney, 04 Mar 2008 
There are momentsin life when you can become speechless,I have always liked the ethos of the ECM label,andin the the vast majority of albums they release hit such a standard that other labels can only dream of,this is aone such album.
Garbarek & the Hilliards arein a stratosphere of their own,this truly stunning album achieves a benchmark evenin ECMs high standard.the music is never short of stunning with Garbarek weaving his magic spell with beautiful,gracefull & moving sounds so much so that the problems of the world seem to disapear.
The Hilliard ensembles vocal ambience was never better,and having seen Garbarek & the Hilliards perform this livein concert,this is no one hit wonder.
This album changed the way that i listen to music,if you get a chance let this into your life,soul & heart & you will feel much better for it.
The music is enchanting,haunting & beautiful,and dates from the 13th14th & 15th century & it is a credit to all performers that it still sounds fresh today,if you like this try Gothic Voices "A Feather on the breath Of God"
Buy this album & be at peace with yourself
Beautiful sounds. - By: M. S Worthington, 16 Jan 2007 
The first track on this CD takes my breath away every time I hear it. It really is stunningly beautiful.
However, if you are like the poor unfortunate "music fan" above who has become such a purist that you fail to just sit back & listen to beautiful sounds & melodies (this being after all what music isin its most basic form) then please don't buy this. No, saxaphone & choral music at first sounds like a disaster...but this WORKS. Yes, as one reviewer has already mentioned, some tracks work better than others, but music is there to be enjoyed, to be played with, to have fun with & enjoyed. I am betting the reviewer above is also one of the select few who cannot abide Classic FM because it has "commercialised THEIR music". Such a shame. Enjoy this music for what it is & if, like our friend "the above reviewer" you do not like the sound of a beautifully played saxaphone, this is fine, just acknowledge that you don't like sax music, rather than slating a talented musician.
To those who still let their ears & their hearts do the listening, rather than some pompous ideas about "knowing about music", listen to this. You'll love it.
It's how music makes you feel that really matters.Officium makes me feel just great! - By: Mr. P. manning, 11 Oct 2006 While driving over the dreamy mountains of Leek & Buxton, I was fretting over whether or not I would get enough time to finish the job of laying a floor for my present demanding customer.I was taking those hairpins like a madman.I nearly skidded off the road & into a ravine hitting a high grass verge,which fortunatly saved my life.The car stalled,all was quiet except for a stiff breeze blowing through the open window & the radio.At that very moment a tone of emense wonderment & beauty, struck my ear, it was pure with great clarity, even angelic. Jan Garbarek was actually talking to ME,yes! directly communicating to me! Of course I did'nt know him it at the time, but his sax playing touched me so deeply it rested & stilled my racing heart. I was spellbound & was forced to listen to its magic voices right to its regretful conclusion.I sat there & made the time to reflect on what I had just heard,it took me an hour.I sedatly drove on with a smile on my face & a bent bumper,but I did'nt care.The next day I went out & purchased "Officium",(after much searching).Since discovering this masterpiece I have found it to be beneficial,in its calming influence & the best thing of all- IT'S JUST HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL,GREAT!
