The Sixteen's Choral Pilgrimage 2012
Sun, May 27 2012, 11:47AM
Well a splendid performance last night in my local cathedral by The Sixteen of works by Josquin, Brumel and Lassus on their 2012 choral pilgrimage 'The Earth Resounds'.
The two movements from Brumel's 12-voice Missa Et ecce terraemotus (known as the 'Earthquake Mass') were extraordinary, and a new name to me. The three Josquin pieces were excellent too, especially the concert opener Praeter rerum seriem (Outside the natural order) which had a really arresting technique explained in the programme notes whereby the notes of the tune were massively elongated in the motet's first half, gradually becoming less so as the piece proceeded.
The Josquin had some bone-trembling moments of beauty in it. Parla I know you like Lassus' tense polyphony as you once described it - I found the Lassus more earthy. Appropriate though in a set called The Earth Resounds.
As William Shakespeare would have said, 'A finer sound in Christendom there is none good sire I warrant thee'.
Anyone on this fair isle can catch them still - they're about halfway through the tour, and still to play Manchester Bridgewater Hall, York Minster, Ealing Abbey, Wells and Durham Cathedrals. Highly recommended.
('The Earth Resounds' CD is reviewed on page 81 of June's issue by Fabrice Fitch).
Mark
Thu, May 31 2012, 10:30PM
#2
RE: The Sixteen's Choral Pilgrimage 2012
Antoine Brumel is a very considerable composer of the period, with some truly extraordinary and beautiful music.
There are at least three CDs which can help to appreciate his music:
- A full CD, dedicated to some of his main works (Missa et ecce terra motus, Lamentations and Magnificat), by the Tallis Scholars, on Gimell.
- An equally good CD, almost all dedicated to Brumel's music, by the Hilliard Ensemble, on Coro hilliard live and
- Another full CD with the less known Missa de Beata Vergine (plus some minor works), on Naxos.
Good exploration.
Parla
Sounds like a great concert Mark. Only the concert opener is familiar to me, and I've never heard any of Brumel's music. I agree with you about the 'earthiness' of much of Lassus' music. Probably it's not coincidence that he often chose popular songs as the bases for his mass settings!
Unfortunately I'm too far away to attend any of the concerts but the CD sounds interesting.
Chris
Chris A.Gnostic