Igor Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms
Igor Stravinsky
Stravinsky's own recording of his Symphony of Psalms is available on YouTube, though the three movements are separate:
1st Movement:
2nd Movement:
3rd Movement:
CBC Orchestra
If you're a collector of hard-copy CDs, the recording is still in the CBS catalog (CBS MK 42434). The program notes are written by Stravinsky himself, and provide fascinating insight into the compositional process in addition to discussing many musical and aesthetic issues in the piece. Recorded in 1963, the performance features the CBC Orchestra and the Festival Singers of Toronto. As it's conducted by the composer, this recording is a critically important performance document.
George Solti
There is an exciting performance of this work with a scrolling score conducted by George Solti with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
John Eliot Gardiner
Among John Eliot Gardiner's most outstanding performances is his 2002 recording of the Symphony of Psalms with his Monteverdi Choir and the London Symphony orchestra. It's stunning in its power, precision, clarity of texture, richness of colors and spell-binding musicality. This recording also has some of the most beautiful wind playing — the fugue that opens the second movement is arresting in its sheer beauty. On YouTube, each movement appears separately:
1st Movement:
2nd Movement:
3rd Movement:
