Josquin Desprez: Missa Gaudeamus/Motets

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A Sei Voci have redeemed themselves (following their unfortunate rendition of Josquin's Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariæ) with this superb disc. They have found a terrific children's choir (La Maîtrise des Pays de Loire) and have added exquisitely sung plainchant propers to a marvelous Mass setting. The Missa Gaudeamus takes its name from the first word of the Introit for All Saints' Day--Josquin uses the chant melody for that word 61 times in the course of his Mass cycle. The motets that end this disc include a setting of the hymn "Ave maris stella" entirely different from the one A Sei Voci recorded previously alongside the Missa Ave maris stella. All Josquin recordings should be this good. --Matthew Westphal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Tracks:

Humilium Decus
Missa Prolationum: Kyrie
Missa Prolationum: Gloria
Missa Prolationum: Credo
Missa Prolationum: Sanctus
Missa Prolationum: Benedictus
Missa Prolationum: Agnus Dei
Gaude Coelestis Domina
In Hydraulis
Flos De Spina
Illibata Del Virgo Nutix

Customer Reviews:

One of the highlights of the Clerk's group Ockeghem series.......2005-08-03

Johannes Ockeghem (c1410 - 1497) was a composer who had one of the most far reaching impacts on the history of music. He was also the father of the musical form of the canon. So whether it is a canon by a modern composer, by Bach or by Pachabel - all these are but ripples of the impact that this man had on the destiny of Western music. However of all of the surviving works - there is a sadly lost 36 part mass cycle - the Missa Prolationum is the one that shows the grandiosity of his musical vision, his audacity and the genius of his mind perhaps far greater than any other. Ockeghem is the father of period of flowering of Renaissance music that after him reached a peak of complex richness that has perhaps never had its equal since. On his death the finest composers in Europe gathered together to pay him tribute - including Josquin, la Rue, and Obrecht.

The Mass is a canon cycle in which different sections of the choir sing the canon simultaneously at two different tempi (prolationum refers to different subdivisions of the whole note) - in other words it is a double canon. The cycle progresses with each section starting with a double canon at the unison, then at the second, third and so on up a double canon at the octave. It all sounds phenomenally complex in theory but listening to the work, the results have an effortlessly fluent yet powerful impact of unflagging communicative power.

The recording here by the Clerk's group has much to recommend it. While many still swear by the recording by the Hilliard that recording is becoming difficult to obtain and some may prefer the use of sopranos in place of countertenors. At times the Clerk's group convey a greater drama and urgency that overall they compare favorably to the more subdued and introspective approach of the Hilliards.

The recording however is rather on the dry and boxy side with a grainy texture. In fact the recording from Musica Ficta under Bo Holten from Naxos sounds better than this - indeed they also have a recording of the Missa Prolationum. The Clerk's group couple their Mass with works by Josquin and Busnois.

One of the finest things about this release is the excellence of the program notes written by none other than Rob Wegman - a major authority on the music of these times, especially Obrecht - and a work that he argues strongly to be by him, Humilium Decus, is also included here in this recording. Program notes so good as to be worth special mention are as rare as hens teeth but Wegman's notes are a true model of their kind.

All things considered the recording overall still deserves to awarded five stars and if the quite nicely varied coupling suits then this should be seriously considered in choosing a recording of the Missa Prolationum - a work that is a perfect introduction to this composer.

Average customer rating:

Josquin Desprez: Missa Gaudeamus/Motets

Manufacturer: Astree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000DET9S
Release Date: 1997-01-01

Average customer rating:

Wonderful!

Une messe imaginaire

Manufacturer: Astree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004RBWY
Release Date: 2000-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2002-02-03

This is a fabulous recording, and not only because it features works of my favorite Renaissance composer, Josquin Desprez. Also featured are gorgeous pieces by other Renaissance masters, including the most beautiful version of Allegri's "Miserere Mei" I have ever heard; it is a scholarly version, not the standard version one usually hears featuring that soaring high C. I certainly do love the standard version (the recording of St. Paul's Cathedral Choir with Jeremy Budd as the treble soloist is magnificent), but the A Sei Voci version brings a new freshness to the piece that I can't help but to slightly prefer. In particular, the soprano has a lovely tone and sings some soul-stirring melodies above the lower voices.

A Sei Voci is obviously a world-class ensemble. The quality of singing is solid throughout and the music itself is beautiful, even haunting at times. The premise behind the selection of music -- each piece culled from a separate work and put toegther to form one mass -- is interesting, and I think they chose wisely. If you like Renaissance choral music and the sound of a small vocal ensemble, add this recording to your collection. I also highly recommend their recording of Josquin Desprez' "Missa de Beata Virgine", which includes the mass as well as a number of lovely motets.

Josquin dez Prez: Missa Faisant Regretz; Motets
Average customer rating:
Josquin dez Prez: Missa Faisant Regretz; Motets

Manufacturer: Gaudeamus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Josquin Desprez: Missa Fortuna Desperata

Jacob Obrecht: Missa Sub Tuum Praesidium; Benedictus in laude; Salve Regina

Pierre de la Rue: Missa de Sancta Cruce

Missa Malheur Me Bat

Ockeghem: Missa Cuiusvis Toni / Missa Quinti Toni

ASIN: B00005Y0NF
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

Motetti De Passione... B: Tu Solus Qui Facis Mirabilia
Motetti De Passione... B: Domine, Non Secundum
Motetti De Passione... B: Ave Verum Corpus
Motetti De Passione... B: O Domine Jesu Christe
Motetti De Passione... B: Christem Ducem/Qui Velatus
Tout A Par Moy
Missa Faisant Regretz: Kyrie
Missa Faisant Regretz: Gloria
Missa Faisant Regretz: Credo
Missa Faisant Regretz: Sanctus & Benedictus
Missa Faisant Regretz: Agnus Dei

Average customer rating:

The Most Beautiful piece of music I've ever heard.

Josquin Desprez: Missa Gaudeamus/Motets

Manufacturer: Astree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000025MIF
Release Date: 1997-12-09

Tracks:

Missa Gaudeamus: Introit: Gaudeamus
Missa Gaudeamus: Kyrie: Kyrie Eleison
Missa Gaudeamus: Kyrie: Christie Eleison
Missa Gaudeamus: Kyrie: Kyrie Eleison
Missa Gaudeamus: Gloria: Gloria In Excelcis Deo, Et In Terra Pax
Missa Gaudeamus: Gloria: Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi
Missa Gaudeamus: Graduel: Timete. Dominum Omnes Sancti Ejus
Missa Gaudeamus: Allelulia. Venite Ad Me
Missa Gaudeamus: Credo: Patrem Omnipotentatem
Missa Gaudeamus: Credo: Et Incarnatus
Missa Gaudeamus: Credo: Et In Spiritum
Missa Gaudeamus: Credo: Et Unam Sanctum
Missa Gaudeamus: Sanctus: Sanctus
Missa Gaudeamus: Sanctus: Pleni Sunt Caeli
Missa Gaudeamus: Sanctus: Hosanna I
Missa Gaudeamus: Benedictus: Benedictus I A III
Missa Gaudeamus: Benedictus: Hosanna II
Missa Gaudeamus: Agnus Dei: Agnus Dei I
Missa Gaudeamus: Agnus Dei: Agnus Dei II
Missa Gaudeamus: Agnus Dei: Agnus Dei III
Missa Gaudeamus: Antiphonae Ad Communiomen: Beati Mundo Corde - A Sei Voci/Bernard Fabre-Garrus A
Missa Gaudeamus: Salve Regina
Motets A La Vierge: Recordare Virgo Mater: Prima Pars
Motets A La Vierge: Recordare Virgo Mater: Secunda Pars
Motets A La Vierge: Regina Caeli: Prima Pars
Motets A La Vierge: Regina Caeli: Secunda Pars
Motets A La Vierge: Ave Maris Stella: Prima Pars
Motets A La Vierge: Ave Maris Stella: Secunda Pars
Motets A La Vierge: Virgo Salutiferi: Prima Pars - A Sei Voci/Bernard Fabre-Garrus A
Motets A La Vierge: Virgo Salutiferi: Secunda Pars
Motets A La Vierge: Virgo Salutiferi: Tertia Pars

Amazon.com

A Sei Voci have redeemed themselves (following their unfortunate rendition of Josquin's Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariæ) with this superb disc. They have found a terrific children's choir (La Maîtrise des Pays de Loire) and have added exquisitely sung plainchant propers to a marvelous Mass setting. The Missa Gaudeamus takes its name from the first word of the Introit for All Saints' Day--Josquin uses the chant melody for that word 61 times in the course of his Mass cycle. The motets that end this disc include a setting of the hymn "Ave maris stella" entirely different from the one A Sei Voci recorded previously alongside the Missa Ave maris stella. All Josquin recordings should be this good. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

The Most Beautiful piece of music I've ever heard........2003-03-01

Josquin Desprez was one of the most accomplished composers of his day, of a musical movement known as the "Netherlanders". But you don't have to know that to undestand the beauty and power of this work. If you've just happened to stumble on this, then BUY IT NOW. You will not regret having this music in your life.

This piece does what all great composers strive to do when working from Devotional music: it transcends it's religious context and speaks to a beauty and mystery understood by all regardless of religion and makes it felt in a way only music can.

Again, you need this CD and you don't even know it (perhaps you do) so I am doing a service in declaring: Don't delay! Buy it now and let the music speak for itself.

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