The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Voices of Ascension's Palestrina disc is something of a "greatest hits" collection: a dozen of the prolific composer's best-known motets--including several, such as Super flumina Babilonis, Tu es Petrus, and Sicut cervus, that many listeners will have sung in church or college choirs--and the legendary "Pope Marcellus" Mass. Yet the performance is not the slowly flowing honey usually served up by, say, the Tallis Scholars (as good as that is). Particularly in the Gloria and Credo of the Mass, Dennis Keene deliberately de-emphasizes the rise and fall of the different voices' lines in favor of a more naturally speech-like declamation of the long Latin texts. This means a surprisingly fast tempo--and some rhythmic spring and syncopation one might not expect in Palestrina. Some (not all) of the motets get a similar treatment: it works well in joyous pieces like the Pentecost motet Dum complerentur, but listeners might miss that melodic rise and fall in some of the slower works. The singers of Voices of Ascension are quite skillful, and the slight edge in their tone helps make the different melodies unusually audible. Very worthwhile, but not your father's Palestrina. --Matthew Westphal

The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music, Music, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Dennis Keene, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Vocals, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music, Renaissance Mass, Renaissance Motet, World Music
The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Palestrina Ascends
  • Palestrina unequalled
  • Truly Inspiring
  • Palestrina Resurrected
  • A Beautiful and Inspiring Performance
 The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Sacred & ReligiousSacred & Religious | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
MassesMasses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Renaissance (c.1450-1600)Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Beyond Chant: Mysteries Of The Renaissance
  2. Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli, Missa Aeterna
  3. Voices Of Ascension: From Chant To Renaissance
  4. Palestrina: Missa Pro Defunctis/Motets
  5. Tallis Scholars sing Palestrina

ASIN: B00000J86H
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

  1. Missa Papae Marcelli: Kyrie eleison
  2. Missa Papae Marcelli: Gloria
  3. Missa Papae Marcelli: Credo
  4. Missa Papae Marcelli: Sanctus
  5. Missa Papae Marcelli: Benedictus
  6. Missa Papae Marcelli (6-Part): Agnus Dei
  7. Motets And Offertories: Secundum multitudinem
  8. Motets And Offertories: Tu es Petrus
  9. Motets And Offertories: Dum complerentur
  10. Motets And Offertories: O Domine Jesu Christe
  11. Motets And Offertories: Super flumina Babilonis
  12. Motets And Offertories: Canite tuba
  13. Motets And Offertories: Rorate Coeli
  14. Motets And Offertories: Peccantem me quotidie
  15. Missa Papae Marcelli: Agnus Dei 2
  16. Alma Redemptoris Mater
  17. Sicut cervus
  18. Sitivit anima mea

Amazon.com essential recording

Voices of Ascension's Palestrina disc is something of a "greatest hits" collection: a dozen of the prolific composer's best-known motets--including several, such as Super flumina Babilonis, Tu es Petrus, and Sicut cervus, that many listeners will have sung in church or college choirs--and the legendary "Pope Marcellus" Mass. Yet the performance is not the slowly flowing honey usually served up by, say, the Tallis Scholars (as good as that is). Particularly in the Gloria and Credo of the Mass, Dennis Keene deliberately de-emphasizes the rise and fall of the different voices' lines in favor of a more naturally speech-like declamation of the long Latin texts. This means a surprisingly fast tempo--and some rhythmic spring and syncopation one might not expect in Palestrina. Some (not all) of the motets get a similar treatment: it works well in joyous pieces like the Pentecost motet Dum complerentur, but listeners might miss that melodic rise and fall in some of the slower works. The singers of Voices of Ascension are quite skillful, and the slight edge in their tone helps make the different melodies unusually audible. Very worthwhile, but not your father's Palestrina. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Palestrina Ascends.......2007-03-14

I am an active choral singer. I have been in countless ensembles, this interpretation of Palestrina (the greatest word painter of all time) is truly breathetaking. It's worth every penny and I also recommend the beyond chant albums.

5 out of 5 stars Palestrina unequalled.......2005-10-14

Beautifully sung CD with amazing selections. Palestrina was the real master of medieval/renaissance counterpoint and everyone else who came after him tried their best to imitate him. The way he writes for voices is surreal...you will see why he is known as The Prince of Music.

5 out of 5 stars Truly Inspiring.......2004-04-23

The music itself is truly awsome and the lyrics are soo deep. It's not just absolutely great to listen to, but a real trip to meditate on the meaning of the songs. Palestrina had a real reverence for God and his music just creates a sense of awe. Palestrina was a genius at creating varied vocal parts that are each interesting and beautiful to listen to. The different parts (bases, tenors, altos, and sopranos) have their own little melody and each part has its glory moment. Finaly when Palestrina wants to make and important statement he puts the parts into usison to spell out the most musically satisfying chords I've ever heard. And the voices themselves....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! They are absolutely beautiful! Denis Keene is an amazing director; he never lets the beautiful chanting drag to much so that it keeps moving. However, on the slow meditative songs, Keene takes his time and lets the beauty of the voices create this mood of solemnity. Let me give you a sample of the lyrics of track #14. In Latin: "Peccantem me quotidie et non me poenitentem, timor mortis conturbat me, quia in inferno nulla est redemptio. Miserere mei Deus, et salva me." Which translates to: "I have been sinning every day, without repentence. [And Now] the fear of death torments me, because in the underworld there is no redemption. Have mercy on me, Lord, and save me." This music is some of the most powerful music that I have heard as a Christian and really inspires me.

5 out of 5 stars Palestrina Resurrected.......2001-07-09

Folks, I'm a long-time fan of the Ascension Choir, but Palestrina has always been at the top of my list of "Most Overrated Composers of All Time" (along with the 20th-Century's greatest ..., Igor Stravinsky) - until I broke down & bought Dennis Keene's exquisitely prepared "Prince of Music" CD. By restoring the pulse to the music and banishing that ponderous, thick choral sound traditionally associated with it, Keene brings Palestrina's art to life again and makes it sound completely NEW. It's like seeing rays of light suddenly streaming through an old stained-glass window. It's enough to restore one's faith, in the power of art, if nothing else. The choral sound is gorgeously balanced, strangely light and varied, always moving forward, a truly mystical euphony. I'm not an habitual writer of fan letters, but after several weeks of living with these performances, I just had to write this review. Mr. Keene, if by some chance you're reading this, thanks for a rare and wonderful pleasure: true musical grace captured on CD, there whenever my heart & mind long for it...

5 out of 5 stars A Beautiful and Inspiring Performance.......1999-12-22

This is another great performance by Voices of Ascension, conducted by Dennis Keene. It has to be difficult to give a fresh interpretation to the MISSA PAPAE MARCELLI, a famous work that had been recorded many times, with excellent results. Dennis Keene chooses to use faster tempi, giving a different approach from the traditional solemnity that is typical in the interpretation of this repertoire. This change in tempo works very well, especially in the Gloria and Credo. The album also has other motets and offertories from Palestrina. TU ES PETRUS, DUM COMPLEMENTUR and CANITE TUBA are particularly notable, they sound positively joyful and exultant. The voices has a fresh and integrated sound. And it is a pleasure to have three bonus tracks from previous CDs, specially ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER that is performed with great tenderness. It is obvious that they love the piece very much. The Renaissance repertoire fits the group like a glove. The performances of Voices of Ascension combine technical virtousity with deep interiority.
Choruses: The Greatest Hits
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Good selection of works, but poor quality recording
 Choruses: The Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003QX1
Release Date: 1995-01-17

Tracks:

  1. Aida: Triumphal March
  2. Il Trovatore: Anvil Chorus
  3. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
  4. Prince Igor: Polovstian Dances
  5. 'Requiem' Mass In D Minot, K.626: Requiem aeternam
  6. Don Pasquale: Servants' Chorus
  7. Pagliacci: Peasants' Chorus
  8. 'Coronation' Mass In C Major, K.317: Kyrie (Lord)
  9. 'Lord Nelson' Mass, Hob.XXII, No.11: Kyrie (Lord)
  10. Gregorian Chant: In te speravi, Domine (In You, Oh, Lord, Have I Hoped)
  11. Christ On Mount Of Olives: 'Hallelujah!'
  12. Messiah: Hallelujah!

Tracks:

  1. Carmina Burana: Introduction To 'Carmina Burana' ('The Songs Of Beuron')
  2. La Marseillaise: Verse I
  3. La Marseillaise: Verse II
  4. La Marseillaise: Verse III
  5. La Marseillaise: Verse IV
  6. La Marseillaise: Verse V
  7. Nabucco: Prisoners' Chorus
  8. H.M.S. Pinafore: We Sail The Ocean Blue
  9. Mikado: He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum
  10. Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat-Like Tread
  11. The Planets: Neptune
  12. Missa Brevis: Credo (I Believe)
  13. 'Deutsche' Mass In F Major: 'Zum Evangelium And Credo' ('Of The Evangelical And I Believe')
  14. Symphony No.2 In C Minor: Finale
  15. State Orchestra Of Wurtembergischen: Agnus Dei
  16. Symphony No.9 In D Minor, Op.125 'Chorale': Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Good selection of works, but poor quality recording.......2000-06-15

As I've found with most recordings in this series, the selection of works on this disc set is good - while there are certainly many more choices not included here, I can't really say any of those that were included are bad choices.

The quality of the performances varies. Those works which I am more familiar with seemed to be of lower quality to me. The quality of the recording, however, is of poor quality - either a high level of static or a low level of recording volume contribute to a consistant background hiss when listening to this album. Headphones are not recommended with this set.

If you're looking for an intro to choral works and might use this as a sampler or springboard, I'd recommend this set. However, there are better discs out there for that purpose or for just havings a variety of choral works.

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  3. The Road Home
  4. Verdi - Aida / Caballé · Domingo · Cossotto · Ghiaurov · Cappuccilli · Roni · NPO · Muti [Box set] [Original recording remastered]
  5. Verdi: Messa da Requiem [Hybrid SACD] [SACD]
  6. Vision
  7. Weber: Der Freischütz
  8. A Vaughan Williams Hymnal
  9. Adès: Piano Quintet; Schubert: "Trout Quintet"
  10. Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 22 ("City of Light"); Cello Concerto

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