This program of five motets and sixteen chansons is presented as a collection of the composer's six-part works. In fact, besides its acknowledged omission of Praeter rerum seriem, it ignores ten more six-part motets in the Smijers edition, of which The New Grove works-list downgrades four to the doubtful category (the others have more or less claim to authenticity, a big debate among Josquin scholars). On the other hand, only nine of the chansons are six-voice pieces, and one of those is doubtful.

The King's Singers, who have recently moved to their new label, offer music more rarefied than their usual popular collections, demonstrating an affinity with other Oxbridge graduates who currently dominate the English early-music scene. The six male voices are nicely balanced, as usual, and their idiomatic interpretations are quite satisfactory. The five-voiced lament for Ockeghem and the four-voiced Mille regretz are among the more familiar items, while O virgo prudentissima seems to be a first recording. The sound is clear, the notes by David Fallows are useful, and texts come with translation. This is a good addition to the Josquin shelf, hardly too crowded anyway.

-- J. F. Weber, FANFARE [5/1994]

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Requiems

Adriano Banchieri: L'organo suonarino, Op. 13

Kreuzchorvespern (Geistliche Musik in der Zeit der Trauer un

Dolcissima mia vita (Choral Music from the Sixteenth Century

Delius, F.: 2 Aquarelles / Debussy, C.: Prelude A L'Apres-Mi

Glenn Gould: The Composer

Codex Las Huelgas: Music from 13th Century Spain

Includes toccata(s) by Giovanni Gabrieli. Ensemble: Cologne Musica Fiata. Conductor: Roland Wilson. Soloists: Graham Nicholson, Sebastian Scharr, François Petit-Laurent, Martin Lubenow, Matthias Sprinz, Yuji Fujimoto, Detlef Reimers, Sebastian Krause, Ole Andersen, Cas Gevers, Henning Plumeyer, Peter Sommer.

Classical Music

Recording information: Ringsaker Church, Hedmark, Norway (02/28/2009-03/01/2009); Ringsaker Church, Hedmark, Norway (05/18/2009-05/20/2009).

Rore: Passion Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Johannem

Sermons and Devotions

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing.

The King's Singers: Nightsong

Despite the somewhat sterile concert-hall ambiance, this King's Singers' performance at the 2008 BBC Proms gives listeners a fair representation of the group's live concerts, in this case a sort of celebration/retrospective of the celebrated ensemble's 40-year history. There are several folksong arrangements (honoring King's Singers arrangers Gordon Langford, Philip Lawson, and Bob Chilcott), several madrigals and partsongs--staples of the group's rich and varied repertoire--and, perhaps the program's highlight, Poulenc's rarely-heard set of six Chansons Françaises Op. 130. There's virtuosity aplenty, most effectively displayed in Janequin's challenging "battle" piece, La Guerre, John McCabe's Scenes in America Deserta (written for the King's Singers), and in an entertaining if musically ill-advised fit of overexuberance, the fastest rendition of Passereau's Il est bel et bon ever recorded.

The sense of "you are there" is confirmed by the group's frequent informative (and often humorous) talks to the audience, and by the inclusion of applause after each piece (not a plus for many CD listeners!), but there are certainly times where our enjoyment of the concert would be enhanced if we could only see the singers' onstage interaction and outward presentation to the audience (in fact, a DVD of this concert is available). Ultimately, this is a very satisfying recital that showcases the King's Singers and many of their classic concert pieces in one of Britain's hallowed events and performing venues. If you're a fan, you've already reserved a spot for this disc in your collection; if you're new to the King's Singers, one listen to this entertaining, characterful concert will have you looking for more.

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

Classical Music

Includes aria(s) by various composers. Soloist: Eva Gustavson.
Includes song(s) by various composers. Soloist: Eva Gustavson.

A major force of late-Renaissance polyphony, Italian composer Giovanni Maria Nanino (1544-1607) was Palestrina’s successor as maestro di cappella at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. While at Santa Maria Maggiore, Nanino produced a small, but masterful catalogue of sacred music, which was popular throughout Italy. This is the first recording to be dedicated to Nanino’s music. Maurizio Pastori, the leading authority on Nanino, has prepared the material for this recording, and the edited scores will be soon published by Toccata Press.

Brahms LoveSongs

SACRED MUSIC FOR A WHOLE YEAR

ESPRIT