The Early Music Club (EMC)

[San Antone]

Hildegard of Bingen : Re-Imagined



Hildegurls

[The new erato]

I visited the abbey at Bingen in 2010, pretty close to the Sarge's abode I guess.

[San Antone]

MACHAUT'S MESSE DE NOTRE DAME : AN OVERVIEW

[San Antone]

Jacob Obrecht : Netherlands Renaissance composer born #OnThisDay

[San Antone]

Thomas Tallys : one of Englands's greatest composers died #OnThisDay in 1585

[Que]

Following in Harry's  footsteps by revisiting this:

[asin]B00ABQM49I[/asin]

This set gets some bad press on Amazon for, basically, being dull....
Some blame the composer and qualify the performances as "heavenly", some  blame both.

The Fanfare review is much more positive: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=871624
As is Johan van Veen: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/July13/Willaert_motets_OC835.htm

I am inclined to agree with our Harry, who loves it.
Willaert was a transitional figuere who in my opinion wrote these motets deliberately in an introverted and musically conservative style (Stile Antico).  Singer Pur does honour its name by taking a natural approach to the music, without trying to emotionally "highlight" it. I think that leaving the introverted, low key nature of the music as it is, was a wise decision by Singer Pur. They present us with the music as it is, up to up us to decise whether we like it. I do. I do enjoy the way the music unobtrusively unfolds in perfect performances. For me not every composer has to storm the gates of Heaven. ...
But just wait until The Sound and the Fury try their hands on this...

Q

[The new erato]

Following in Harry's  footsteps by revisiting this:

[asin]B00ABQM49I[/asin]

This set gets some bad press on Amazon for, basically, being dull....
Some blame the composer and qualify the performances as "heavenly", some  blame both.
The Fanfare review is much more positive: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=871624
As is Johan van Veen: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/July13/Willaert_motets_OC835.htm

I am inclined to agree with our Harry, who loves it.
Willaert was a transitional figuere who in my opinion wrote these motets deliberately in an introverted and musically conservative style (Stile Antico).  Singer Pur does honour its name by taking a natural approach to the music, without trying to emotionally "highlight" it. I think that leaving the introverted, low key nature of the music as it is, was a wise decision by Singer Pur. They present us with the music as it is, up to up us to decise whether we like it. I do. I do enjoy the way the music unobtrusively unfolds in perfect performances. For me not every composer has to storm the gates of Heaven. ...
But just wait until The Sound and the Fury try their hands on this...

Q

After an initial listen to disc one, I thought the various works sounded somewhat samey. Which however doesn't mean the individual works aren't very fine, or that the singing is less than wonderful. Sampled one or two at a time, this is very good.

[Mandryka]

Following in Harry's  footsteps by revisiting this:

[asin]B00ABQM49I[/asin]

This set gets some bad press on Amazon for, basically, being dull....
Some blame the composer and qualify the performances as "heavenly", some  blame both.
The Fanfare review is much more positive: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=871624
As is Johan van Veen: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/July13/Willaert_motets_OC835.htm

I am inclined to agree with our Harry, who loves it.
Willaert was a transitional figuere who in my opinion wrote these motets deliberately in an introverted and musically conservative style (Stile Antico).  Singer Pur does honour its name by taking a natural approach to the music, without trying to emotionally "highlight" it. I think that leaving the introverted, low key nature of the music as it is, was a wise decision by Singer Pur. They present us with the music as it is, up to up us to decise whether we like it. I do. I do enjoy the way the music unobtrusively unfolds in perfect performances. For me not every composer has to storm the gates of Heaven. ...
But just wait until The Sound and the Fury try their hands on this...

Q

I've only ever listened superficially, it maybe would help to study how he set the texts.  My impression is that the music isn't expressive - it's just consistently drab. Neither does it contain any catchy tunes. Or major musical events.

But contrapuntally there are some  interesting things going on, and Singer Pur is pretty good at that sort of thing. This little discussion has made me think that now is the time for me to get Rifkin's LP of the motets, which a friend of mine who is more knowledgable about early music than I am says  is particularly outstanding.

[San Antone]

Following in Harry's  footsteps by revisiting this:

[asin]B00ABQM49I[/asin]

This set gets some bad press on Amazon for, basically, being dull....
Some blame the composer and qualify the performances as "heavenly", some  blame both.
The Fanfare review is much more positive: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=871624
As is Johan van Veen: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/July13/Willaert_motets_OC835.htm

I am inclined to agree with our Harry, who loves it.
Willaert was a transitional figuere who in my opinion wrote these motets deliberately in an introverted and musically conservative style (Stile Antico).  Singer Pur does honour its name by taking a natural approach to the music, without trying to emotionally "highlight" it. I think that leaving the introverted, low key nature of the music as it is, was a wise decision by Singer Pur. They present us with the music as it is, up to up us to decise whether we like it. I do. I do enjoy the way the music unobtrusively unfolds in perfect performances. For me not every composer has to storm the gates of Heaven. ...
But just wait until The Sound and the Fury try their hands on this...

Q

I agree with your comment (bolded) and enjoy this disc very much.

[aligreto]

This morning's listening....





Very easy listening.

[Que]

I was intrigued by this posted recording:

Ross Wood etc play a requiem by Pierre Manchicourt. This is my first experience of this composer, who I just stumbled across via spotify. Once I started to listen I couldn't stop, because the music is so rich melodically, rhythmically and contrapuntally. It is maybe to sensual to be an enduring favourite for me, but nevertheless I shall have to get to know this composer better - if anyone knows anything good to listen to please let me know.

Found some reviews:
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/a/ars00406a.php
http://www.amazon.com/Pierre-Manchicourt-Volume-2-De/product-reviews/B000HT2MAU/

Q

[aligreto]

Another wonderful disc from Shirley Rumsey.

[aligreto]

Lovely soprano vocals on this one.

[kishnevi]

Cross post from the main listening thread

CDs 84/85:   Gustav Leonhardt playing Renaissance and Baroque organs from North Italy (although the music performed reaches to the 18th century and beyond, to Hummel)
[asin]B00KXJD58M[/asin]
The last pair of discs from an outstanding box (although not being keen about organs, I can't say I am as enthused about these last ones as others).  Some performance duds, but generally high quality throughout.  Two sequences of recordings stand out:
Couperin performed by an ensemble led by the Kuijkens, and a series of Bach for keyboard performed by Leonhardt.  Some of the latter has been budget-boxed here
[asin]B005TLWO6S[/asin]
Although that leaves out two discs of organ works and the English Suites.  The Couperin series is more problematic: some is available cheaply used, and the same performers went on to record more Couperin for Accent, but some seems unavailable except as part of this box.

I would anyone interested in the music of 1300-1800 to consider getting this box.

[aligreto]

Music from Jaques Paisible....

[aligreto]

Cross post; for Christmas morning....

[aligreto]

A selection of music by Thomas Tomkins....

[Que]

Well two people I respect on this forum are equally happy with this ensemble. I will start with some recordings of them, any recommendations?

My Diabolus in Musica recommendations - unfortunately limited to the recordings I know:

[asin]B00019EYQG[/asin][asin]B000GRUU5W[/asin][asin]B000068VGK[/asin]

And of course the one, which is a recent acquisition - A few more on the wishlist!

[asin]B0086WQO9A[/asin]

And then there is one, that arrived two days ago and will get a inaugural spin shortly.
Will report soon, but it comes highly recommended by several at GMG.

[asin]B0053SQSNM[/asin]

Q

[North Star]

And this recording of secular chansons is splendid, too. Below an excerpt from the Amazon reviewer formerly known as Giordano Bruno

This recording is a perfect companion to Diabolus in Musica's CD of Dufay's most memorable mass, Missa Se La Face Ay Pale (which I've reviewed previously. Wonder of wonders, the chanson Se La Face Ay Pale is included on this disk, in an elaborated "keyboard" setting from a tablature manuscript, played on an instrument that worked somewhat like a harpsichord and sounds rather like a harp on energy drinks. The singers have to share glory in this performance with some extraordinarily skillful playing of late Medieval instruments: vielle (fiddle) and Burgundian harp especially. But there's plenty of glory to be shared.

[asin]B000VIFMI6[/asin]

[Que]

Which reminds  me, how is their Machaut Mass? 

[asin]B001E1TGMW[/asin]

I imagined that I had it pretty much covered with recordings by the Ensemble Binchois  (Cantus or Brilliant) and Ensemble Organum (HM).
But then this serious contender appears, followed suit by a recording by Musica Nova (Aeon)....

So now there are four seriosu contenders...we are spoilt for choice! 

MACHAUT'S MESSE DE NOTRE DAME : AN OVERVIEW

Q