Margaret Mikulska wrote:

>I haven't heard Gubaidulina's Passion yet, but in the "department" of
>oratorio repertory, I prefer Penderecki's St.  Luke Passion and Messiaen's
>Transfiguration over Britten's War Requiem.

Because? It's not really enough to say that you just prefer something
over something else.  What is special about the Gubiadulina? I know the
Penderecki, but I put it in a very different category from the War Requiem.
The WR is special as it sets out to make a very specific statement (A
commentary on the futility of war.) The literary and musical devices are
infinite in this work and the way in which Britten chose and set texts is
one of the great triumphs in music.  What do the other works mention above
set out to do? Do they achieve their end? Through what devices? What is it
about these pieces, other than your respected opinion, that would make me
rush out and buy a recording (or better yet, a SCORE!) and learn the piece?
Enquiring minds want to know.

Kevin