Missa Pange Lingua/Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
This disc is very much a mixed bag. The Tallis Scholars give Josquin's great Pange lingua Mass a rather pedestrian reading: all of the variations on the plainchant hymn tune are audible, but the balances are off (Phillips has transposed the music up to suit his sopranos and altos) and the singers sound yet again like they'd rather be doing Palestrina. Something happened during the recording sessions, though, because their Missa la sol fa re mi is stunning. The titular theme (A-G-F-D-E) of this inspired Mass is present throughout, run forwards, backwards and upside-down by Josquin with real ingenuity and beauty. The Tallis Scholars capture all the music's inspiration and spirituality in a performance that, quite frankly, seems touched by the Divine. --Matthew Westphal

Missa Pange Lingua/Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi, Music, Josquin Desprez, The Tallis Scholars, Choral, Classical Music, Mass, Western European Chant

Josquin des Prés: Missa Pange Lingua; Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi
Average customer rating:

Josquin- Divine performance

Beautiful music...

FAMOUS BELGIANS

Michael tierra

Astonishing inventiveness -- staggering genius!

Josquin des Prés: Missa Pange Lingua; Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi
Josquin Desprez , and Tallis Scholars
Manufacturer: Gimell UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005ATCX
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Tracks:

Pange Lingua
Missa Pange Lingua: Kyrie
Missa Pange Lingua: Gloria
Missa Pange Lingua: Credo
Missa Pange Lingua: Sanctus & Benedictus
Missa Pange Lingua: Agnus Dei I, II & III
Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi: Kyrie
Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi: Gloria
Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi: Credo
Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi: Sanctus & Benedictus
Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi: Agnus Dei I, II & III

Amazon.com

This disc is very much a mixed bag. The Tallis Scholars give Josquin's great Pange lingua Mass a rather pedestrian reading: all the variations Josquin works on the plainchant hymn tune are audible, but the balances are off (Phillips has transposed the music up to suit his sopranos and altos); some key rhythmic relationships were misread; and the singers sound yet again as if they'd rather be doing Palestrina. Something happened during the recording sessions, though, because their Missa "la sol fa re mi" is stunning. The titular theme (A-G-F-D-E) of this inspired Mass is present throughout, run forward, backward, and upside-down by Josquin with ingenuity and beauty. The Tallis Scholars capture all the music's inspiration and spirituality in a performance that, quite frankly, seems touched by the Divine. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Josquin- Divine performance.......2007-05-25

I own an extensive library of Sacred chant and choral music, this Cd is at the top of my collection. The performance and recording quality are superior to any of the other 5 Josquin cds I own. This is the Josquin cd to own pure and simple. Having studied classical music I can honestly say this is an amazing piece of work and truely Divine in it's nature....

Beautiful music..........2004-06-11

--Josquin des Prez--
Josquin des Prez was one of the greatest Dutch composers. Born about 1450, he worked through much of his career in church positions. A student of Johan Ockeghem, a Flemish contrapuntist, he developed this considerably during his career. A singer in papal choirs under two popes, Josquin also spent time in Florence and Burgundy. One of his star pupils wrote a book of music methodology in which Josquin is described as 'princeps musicorum'. Josquin's contrapuntal style differs from straight polyphony in points of emphasis, but were universally admired in his time, and continue to be used in churches to this day. Josquin died in 1521

--Plainchant--
Plainchant is basically another word for chant of Gregorian or other styles, being monophonic and in free rhythm. The particular piece here, Pange lingua, was originally a hymn for the feast of Corpus Christi. The first track on this CD presents the plainchant version without embellishment; perhaps as one would have originally heard it in a medieval monastery.

--Missa Pange lingua--
This mass, set for four voices, was possibly Josquin's last mass setting of his long career. Likely dating as late as 1520 (it wasn't published until 1539), it is a mature piece, no longer chasing after musical puzzles to be solved, but rather free and flowing in form. Gustave Reese (quoted in the liner notes) describes it as a 'fantasy on a plainsong.' Soprano is highly used in this mass.

--Missa La sol fa re mi--
This mass is an earlier one, published in 1502, and sets the task of setting a mass based on medieval scales (think here 'Sound of Music' and the do-re-mi) - the pattern of five notes, A-G-F-D-E is evident throughout the parts of the mass, particularly in the tenor. This is a technical and sophisticated masterpiece.

All of these pieces are wonderfully performed, and taken together, they make a wonderful snapshot of Roman Catholic/high Anglican sensibility from the time of triumphant church, just before the Reformation (but still influencing high-church worship and music to this day). They also serve to show a wonderful history of development from the simple to the complex, and the virtues of the music at both stages.

--Liner Notes--
Being internationally acclaimed, the Tallis Scholars' CDs typically present their commentary and texts in English, French, German and Italian; that is true of this disc, which unfortunately does not contain the text of the mass or the plainchant Pange lingua. The cover art also typically represents visual arts contemporary with the compositions - here it is The Deposition, painted circa 1510 - 1515, a piece by Gerard David, who was an historical contemporary of Josquin des Prez. One drawback is that there is little information on the Tallis Scholars or Peter Phillips in the booklet.

--The Tallis Scholars--
The Tallis Scholars, a favourite group of mine since the first time I heard them decades ago, are a group dedicated to the performance and preservation of the best of this type of music. A choral group of exceptional ability, I have been privileged to see them many times in public, and at almost every performance, their singing seems almost like a spiritual epiphany for me, one that defies explanation in words. Directed by Peter Phillips, the group consists of a small number of male and female singers who have trained themselves well to their task.

Their recordings are of a consistent quality that deserve more than five stars; this particular disc of pieces of plainchant and Josquin des Prez deserves a place of honour in the collection of anyone who loves choral music, liturgical music or Gregorian chant, classical music generally, or religious music. This particular recording was made at Merton College, Oxford, in 1986.

FAMOUS BELGIANS.......2004-01-28

Josquin lived nearly a century before Palestrina and Lassus. He is thought to have spent some time in Italy and thus to have contributed to the Flemish influence on Italian polyphony, in which matter he was followed by Lassus himself. These two masses are widely separated by date, and is easy to discern a development in his style from the sectional structure of the Missa La sol fa re mi to the more continuous manner of the Missa Pange Lingua. The stylistic feature of antiphonal responses between the parts is one in which he was conspicuously followed by Lassus and much less by Palestrina, and may be a distinctively Flemish characteristic.

There are three works on this disc, and there is a separate style of recording for each. We are evidently dealing with a very clever recording consultant here. The plainsong Pange Lingua, one of the most marvellous of the plainchants, is given an echoing acoustic suggestive of the standard image of hooded monks as one might encounter that in, say, a Vincent Price film. I buy the effect wholeheartedly, except to say that it certainly does not recall to me the acoustic of the impressive but hardly monastic chapel of Merton College Oxford. Meretricious or not, the effect has at least one out-and-out admirer, and my pleasure was further enhanced on hearing the last two stanzas, the dreaded Tantum Ergo of so many excruciating Victorian settings, sung to its great original melody.

The Missa La sol fa re mi, (the notes A,G,F,D,E in modern parlance and cantance) seems to be regarded as a triumph here by commentators in general. Whether this short canto fermo originated in a parody of the phrase `Lascia faremi' or `Be missing', supposedly associated with some unknown but clearly important personage, is not established. The singing and mastery of style that we have come to associate with so many Oxford and Cambridge groups in recent years are here blessed with a recorded sound that is a masterpiece of clarity and natural resonance. Something changes for the Missa Pange Lingua. I cannot myself perceive here any unsuitable affinity with the style of Palestrina. The vocal line itself is most un-Palestrina-like, and the rendition has a slightly nervy alertness that would not suit Palestrina to my ears. What is conspicuously different is the recorded sound, this time more constricted and slightly more distant. If this was a misjudgment, it was at least a misjudgment in the right direction, as the style of this Mass is less `winning' than that of the other, and more austere. I am reluctant to be judgmental about this, given the obvious virtuosity of the recording engineer. Whether I like the different effect or not, I can't suspect it was unintentional.

A notable issue one way or the other, and heartily recommended.

Michael tierra.......2002-01-10

Usually only a connosieur would buy an album such as this. The fact is that in today's world of singing renaissance music, it just doesn't get any better than the Tallis Scholars. An album to the greatest composer of the 15th century, Josquin Des Pres by them has to be definitive singing of this rich polyphonic music. This is not the usual mood-based rehash of medieval music as is sung by solo women's voices. However beautiful this is, despite the claim that it was sung in 'nunneries' which no one but other nuns would have heard, sacred medeival and renaissance music was mostly intended to be sung by men as boys, countertenors, tenors and basses. Hildegarde and Anonymous Four set the stage for many copycat women's ensembles to do similar music. However, the Tallis Scholars have women who sing with pure sound with a minimum of vibrato - anathema to this kind of music. Intonation is impeccable as one would expect. But the added thing is that Peter Phillips knows this music so well, he is able to add personal interpretative touches that gives their performance unique character and distinction. With Josquin, one is bathed in polyphony with gorgeious melifluous lines come at one from all sides. Yet, for those who are discerning and after repeated hearing, his music has a rhythmic and harmonic 'earthiness'. Josquin set the standard for over 150 years of music making after him.
Peter Philips and the Tallis Scholars set the contemporary standard for how this music should be performed and sung.

I would love to hear them do an album of Josquin's rowdy, and sometimes near-bawdy secular music.

Astonishing inventiveness -- staggering genius!.......2001-10-24

Josquin's musical legacy is one of extremes. Most lay people have never heard of him -- many musicologists consider him the greatest composer of all time. To be honest, I have not studied his music enough to agree wholeheartedly with the latter viewpoint, however, this beautifully performed and recorded CD shows how there may be a strong case for his claim to genius. The two works featured cover the span of his writing. Pange lingua was published in 1539 and Missa La sol fa re mi in 1502. Pange lingua shows his penchant for expressive variety, and La sol fa re mi his inventiveness at writing an entire mass retaining the statement of five notes throughout.

Missa Pange Lingua/Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi

Average customer rating:

Top Ten
Magical
Terrific and moving performances
Exquisite

Missa Pange Lingua/Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi
Josquin Desprez , and The Tallis Scholars
Manufacturer: Polygram Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001I4P
Release Date: 1996-09-17

Tracks:

Plainchant: Pange lingua
Missa Pange Lingua: Kyrie
Missa Pange Lingua: Gloria
Missa Pange Lingua: Credo
Missa Pange Lingua: Sanctus & Benedictus
Missa Pange Lingua: Agnus Deli I, II& III
Missa La sol fa re mi: Kyrie
Missa La sol fa re mi: Gloria
Missa La sol fa re mi: Credo
Missa La sol fa re mi: Sanctus & Benedictus
Missa La sol fa re mi: Agnus Dei I, II& III

Amazon.com essential recording

This disc is very much a mixed bag. The Tallis Scholars give Josquin's great Pange lingua Mass a rather pedestrian reading: all of the variations on the plainchant hymn tune are audible, but the balances are off (Phillips has transposed the music up to suit his sopranos and altos) and the singers sound yet again like they'd rather be doing Palestrina. Something happened during the recording sessions, though, because their Missa la sol fa re mi is stunning. The titular theme (A-G-F-D-E) of this inspired Mass is present throughout, run forwards, backwards and upside-down by Josquin with real ingenuity and beauty. The Tallis Scholars capture all the music's inspiration and spirituality in a performance that, quite frankly, seems touched by the Divine. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Top Ten.......2000-05-26

I mean, this is one of the top ten pieces of all time, and on this disk, the music is performed and recorded impeccably. I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with this recording.

Magical.......2000-01-10

When, last year, I found the Tallis Scholars reduced to just twelve for their recording of Russian Orthodox Music, I thought that they had reached their limit. However, I was mistaken: on this disc there are just EIGHT of them! (So few in fact that a photo is provided- so we can put faces to the familiar names...) This tiny group nonetheless makes a strong case for two of Josquin's Masses. Though their sound throughout is wonderfully conducive to relaxation and meditation, I have to say that the "Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi" emerges a notch above the other: it amply shows Josquin's skill at drawing the most magical sounds out of simple, basic four-part polyphony (impressive and breathtaking particularly when you consider that Josquin's near-contemporaries frequently used five-part choirs to produce a full-bodied texture and timbre in their choral works). A beautiful disc- well done!

Terrific and moving performances.......1999-07-04

One of the other reviewers is of the opinion that the Pange Lingua is a little pedestrian. I've heard this disc dozens of times, and seen them sing it live. Maybe my ignorance confuses me, or maybe my ignorance allows me to listen with more clarity, but I would use the word 'joyous' rather than pedestrian. Both are wonderful pieces of music sung by virtuoso performers. Oh, and I don't think they prefer Palestrina either!

Exquisite.......1998-12-21

This CD is incredible; I'm not a classical music scholar, but I cannot imagine another work performed by another ensemble approaching this. In fact, track 3 from this CD is slated to be played at my funeral (50 years from now, I hope), very, very loud. There will be no dry eyes. Bottom line -- the most beautiful music I know.

Josquin des Prez: Sixteenth-Century Lute Settings

Average customer rating:

A wonderful discovery
Outstanding performance of unusual repertoire

Josquin des Prez: Sixteenth-Century Lute Settings

Manufacturer: Discipline Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

Tracks:

Praeter Rerum Seriem
Part II: Virtus Saneti Spiritus
Faulte D'Argent
Comment Peut Avoir Joye
Et In Terra Pax
Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi (From Missa Pange Lingua)
Scaramella
En L'Ombre D'Ung Buysonnet
Benedicta Es Coelorum Regina
Part II: Per Illud Ave
Part III: Nunc Mater Exora Natum
Primero Kyrie
Christe
Postrero Kyrie
Mille Regretz (La Cancion Del Emprador)
Glosa Sobre Un Kyrie Postrero (From Missa Pange Lingua)
Circumdederunt Me (Nimphes, Nappes)
Adieu Mes Amours
Pater Noster
Part II: Ave Maria

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful discovery.......2001-08-13

I first heard Jacob Herringman playing this music on the radio, from a recorded concert, and was immediately taken by it. Josquin was regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, although he is largely unknown today outside of music scholarship. Herringman has done music lovers a great service presenting Josquin's compositions via the lute, which, among other things, highlights the unique expressive quality of the instrument.

Outstanding performance of unusual repertoire.......2001-03-09

This is a superb and profoundly musical recording of challenging and seldom-played repertoire. Arrangements of vocal music, or intabulations, comprise the largest single category of Renaissance lute music. This is the first Renaissance lute CD to be devoted entirely to such arrangements, in this case of works by the greatest composer of the time, Josquin des Prez. This anthology includes lute arrangements of motets, Mass movements, and secular songs from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland, in a well-constructed program. Jacob Heringman performs these pieces on two different lutes and a vihuela, the lute's Spanish cousin.

In these works, originally for as many as six voices, finger-twisting chords alternate with swift-moving ornamental passages; Heringman manages both with great agility, so as to maintain the conterpoint and make the music sound much easier than it is. He uses a great deal of variation in dynamics and articulation, along with a subtle rubato, to bring out the musical ideas in these pieces even for those listeners who are not familiar with the original vocal works.

The performances are so uniformly excellent that it's difficult to isolate high points, but some of my favorites are Valentin Bakfark's arrangement of "Faulte d'argent;" the Gloria from the "Missa Pange lingua," from the Capirola lute book; the six-voice motet "Benedicta es,caelorum regina," intabulated by Albert de Rippe, and the stunningly virtuosic setting of "Adieu mes amours" by Hans Neusidler. One piece that may be familiar to many guitarists is Narvaez's "Mille regretz," but most of the pieces are recorded here for the first time.

This is not "in-your-face" music; it invites and generously rewards active listening and close attention. Heringman's playing is expressive in a very natural way, drawing attention to the music and the instrument rather than the performer. It is a delight to hear serious Renaissance music played in such a transparent and unmannered style.

The recording quality is excellent, leaving just the right amount of "space" around the instrument. The program notes, by musicologist David Fallows and by Heringman himself, are well-written and very informative. Highly recommended.

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