Lamentations

[Que]

Constanzo Festa (1485 - 1545) was the first major native Italian polyphonist after the domination of composers from the Netherlands in Italy and combined both styles. Despite the fact that a substantial amount of his music is preserved, recordings seem very thin on the ground. Paul van Nevel did a disc of choral music, included in the "Secret Labyrinth" box, and an instrumental one. Festa is said to be the beacon for his successors, notably Palestrina.

This is the only complete recording of the Lamentations, and despite some minor reservations I think we are lucky to have it.
The 11 male members of the French ensemble Scandicus give a dedicated, small and intimate  performance. The sound the ensemble is on the smoother and mellow side. It could more edgy, but it is beautifully done - intimate and touching. The music itself is pretty, though perhaps not breathtaking. Scandicus keep these predominantly homophonic works sufficiently transparent.Though this would be a perfect piece for Cinquecento to record!

[Que]

Crossposting from the WAYLT thread:

Lamentations by Cristóbal de Morales:



https://capelladeministrers.com/en/discografia-en/cd/super-lamentationes.html

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/May/Morales_lamentations_CDM2048.htm

A gorgeous recording. Can't say I am overall always a fan of Carles Magraner: eccentric and often with over-the-top instrumental accompaniments. But he hit the jackpot here. There is instrumental colla-parte accompaniment, by five viols (vihuelas de arco) and lute. But it is fortunately tastefully done and to subtle effect. Magraner used 6 singers, I suspects he doubles the tenors in the pieces for 4 of 5 voices.

A valuable addition to the repertoire of lamentations! 

[Que]

Cross posting from the WAYLT thread:



Not an original listening choice - fellow members have posted this recording twice in the last few weeks.
These are the same lamentations by Morales as recorded by Carles Magraner and the Capella de Ministrers. But there a few differences. This is sung a cappella, Magraner adds instruments though sparingly. And this is complete, Magraner has one lamentation missing. And this superb ensemble is Flemish, and they sound like it. Both recordings have a completely different feel to it.

Wonderful recording! 

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Sep/Morales_lamentations_KTC1538.htm

https://earlymusicreview.com/morales-the-seven-lamentations/

http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/BIS_2407_Etcetera_KTC1538.html

[Que]

Cross posting from the WAYLT thread:

The most beautiful lamentations of the Renaissance are (naturally) by Lassus:



There are other recordings, but not really... if you get my drift...
Though I would welcome a recording with smaller forces by one the newer ensembles that specialize in Franco-Flemish repertoire.

https://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/hmu1299.htm

[Que]

Cross posting from the WAYLT thread:




Lamentations in full-fledged Neapolitan Baroque style! This recording is from my early collecting days, and still absolutely wonderful to return to. A German production... Apart from Diego Fasolis (Arts) - a performance I don't like BTW - all Italian period ensembles seem to have neglected this lovely music.. which is a real shame.

[Jo498]

What's wrong with the Fasolis? I only have that one but it's admittedly a long time that I listened to it.
And even more elaborate, longer set is by Alessandro Scarlatti a bit earlier. This was recorded by Gatti/Aurora.

[pjme]

I listened to these Lamentationes with interest - lovely! The performance is excellent...but ,imho, to be savoured in small portions. after a while I found (the very elegant) combination of voice, cello(s), bass, and organ a bit too similar. Still, on this cold and grey, wet day the almost repetitive music became intoxicating...

" At the time of his death, in 1741, Joseph-Hector Fiocco's widow sold the manuscripts of the composer's works to Joannes Vanden Boom, Dean and Chapel Master of the Cathedral Saint Michel and Saint Gudule in Brussels, where the composer had held the post of zangmeester (choirmaster) until his untimely death. Among this collection is a complete set of nine Lamentations for Holy Week for the unusual instrumentation of solo voice, obbligato cello and basso continuo. Fiocco's Lamentations are conceived in the most elevated Italian style of the early eighteenth century. They are masterful and can compete with the most beautiful such compositions, given their dramatic power and poignant emotion. In addition to the nine Lamentations known from the abovementioned manuscript, the present recording offers in world premiere two new settings and a differently instrumented version found in the archives of the Fonds St.-Jacob in Antwerp. "

[Que]

I listened to these Lamentationes with interest - lovely! The performance is excellent...but ,imho, to be savoured in small portions. after a while I found (the very elegant) combination of voice, cello(s), bass, and organ a bit too similar. Still, on this cold and grey, wet day the almost repetitive music became intoxicating...

I agree. I tried this last year, with high expectations. But found it quite dull and, like you say, repetitive.
I guess I like his harpsichord music better...

[Que]

What's wrong with the Fasolis? I only have that one but it's admittedly a long time that I listened to it.
And even more elaborate, longer set is by Alessandro Scarlatti a bit earlier. This was recorded by Gatti/Aurora.

It's been a long time... I cannot recall the specifics anymore. All I can remember is that I gave Fasolis a fair chance, got the recording (this was before streaming), didn't like it and culled it.

Anyaway, you mentioned Alessandro Scarlatti's Lamentazioni:



http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/Glossa_GCD921205.html

A recording originally ussed on Symphonia before it was reissued on Glossa. Great recording. Though for those that have no issue going through almost two hours of lamentations with limited stylistical variation, almost all sung by a single soprano. But there is much to enjoy, also in the instrumental accompaniment by Enrico Gatti cs.

[Que]

Cross posting from the WAYLT thread:



A recording new to me, I'm enjoying it!. Quite theatrical, Jommelli really tells a story.
The participation of Véronique Gens is a very big plus.

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2010/Nov10/Jommelli_6286282.htm

[Que]

Cross posting from the WAYLT thread:



These lamentations are also to be found in Victoria's big collection of music for the Holy Week, the Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae. But here a later published, revised version is performed. Performances have some rough edges and are definitely not as immaculate as La Colombina's recording of the complete Officium but have a nice "real" feel to it.

[Que]

Such gorgeous music - quite the discovery! 

Spanish (Aragonese) Pedro Rimonte (Ruimonte/Ruymonte) spent most of his active days as a composer at the Habsburg court in Brussels, (Southern) Netherlands. He was a contemporary of famous names like Victoria, Morales and Guerrerro, though a bit younger than them. Like the name of the Flemish ensemble Hispano(-)Flamenca performing his music here, it is a blend of Spanish and Franco-Flemish influences. The result is absolutely beautiful.

Recommended!