[Shosta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masolino I don't think I ever suggested anywhere that Palestrina is "simple"-

I know that. It's just something that always surprises me when I read a 'History of Music' or notes accompanying a cd: Papae Marcelli=simplification to meet counterreform rules.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zumaro Et Iesum - Carlos Mena & Juan Carlos Rivera.

Good disc. Mena is an emerging 'star and this cd is refreshing because you can listen a different Victoria. A little more human and less divine.

 

[Bunnyears]

There is also Alfonso Ferrabosco and Christopher Tye. Ferrabosco, although a minor Italian composer found work at the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. He crisscrossed Europe travelling from England to Rome and many suspected that he might have been a spy for Elizabeth at the Pope's court. Ferrabosco brought the madrigal form to England during the mid 16th century, and influenced both Byrd and Tallis.

Tye composed works both for the Latin Church and later after Henry VIII's split from Rome for the English Church.

Now, my recommendation of Renaissance music is not at all hip. In fact it's probably a fanciful reconstruction, but it was the recording that started me on early music. In the mid 60s Hans Neumeyer and the collegium Terpsichore recorded an lp for Archiv (DGG) entitled Tanzmusik der Praetorius Zeit. This recording is again available as part of a DG panorama release (2 for the price of 1) set of cds: Dances of the Renaissance. It includes works by Dowland, Gesualdo, Praetorius, Schein, Widman, Praetorius, and others whose names are lost. It is a recording of strictly secular music so it meshes very well with the other recommendations to give a good picture of what was happening outside the churches.

 

[hciman77]

A new continent of music is now open to me, thanks again everyone - this will keep me busy for quite a while. This is a great community.

 

[zumaro]

One good way to get a real diversity of superb Spanish music would be in the double CD "Music For The Duke Of Lerma" performed by the Gabrieli Consort under the direction of Paul McCreesh. This is a classic disk if I have ever heard one. Actually you can't usually go too wrong with McCreesh in most repertoire, and because he works with liturgical recreations you get more diversity of music and sound than just hearing a mass performed inauthentically as a concert piece.

You could also try "Santiago a Capella" with the Monteverdi Choir and John Elliot Gardiner, another beautiful disk of first rate music.

 

[Shosta]

This brings to my mind another good one:
The marriage of England and Spain
ORCHESTRA OF THE RENAISSANCE
Richard Cheetham
http://www.glossamusic.com/catalogue/1401.htm
This cd "portrays the nuptial ceremony of Maria Tudor and Philip of Spain at Winchester in 1554" (as say in the notes).
Music of Taverner, de Morales, Gombert, Cabezón,...

 

[papy]

Another vote for Tallis's Spem in Alium.

And also Byrd's Mass for 4 voices and Mass for 5 voices.

both CDs on Naxos can be a good starting point.

Papy

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by papy Another vote for Tallis's Spem in Alium. And also Byrd's Mass for 4 voices and Mass for 5 voices. Papy

Both in my "cart" - thanks.

 

[Masolino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by papy Another vote for Tallis's Spem in Alium. And also Byrd's Mass for 4 voices and Mass for 5 voices. both CDs on Naxos can be a good starting point. Papy

I think there is even a "Spem in Alium" on SACD in surround
sound-- supposedly that is how the music was performed at
first, with 8 five-voice choirs seated around an octagon hall.

http://www.musicweb-international.co...em_6110111.htm

It's the Naxos recording but the reviewer apparently has
some reservations in his recommendation (confused
acoustics on regular CD playback?).

 

[Bunnyears]

I picked up the Tallis Scholars doing Spem in allium at yourmusic last year. Maybe it's still there.

 

[Masolino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnyears I picked up the Tallis Scholars doing Spem in allium at yourmusic last year. Maybe it's still there.

Choir and organ specialist W. A. Grieve-Smith compares six recordings of Tallis's "Spem in Allium," which he called "probably the most famous composition of Tudor polyphony":

http://www.lafolia.com/archive/griev...108tallis.html

I have just picked up a cheap Virgin 2X recording of Tallis motets by Andrew Parrott and his Taverner Choir: "Spem" is included and performed with a presumably authentic continuo part for organ and bass trombone. The result is closer to Spanish polyphony of this period (Victoria, Morales etc.) and appears to be more full-blooded and passionate than usual with performances of English music of this period.

 

[Bunnyears]

Masolino,

I read the review with some amusement but need some clarification, is "tuchas" Latin?

 

[Masolino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnyears Masolino, I read the review with some amusement but need some clarification, is "tuchas" Latin?

Dear Bunnyears,

"Tuchus" is- surprise - Yiddish, meaning posterior or bottom

So Tallis Scholars are among the few who didn't give "Spem" a dirge
treatment which the music doesn't deserve.

oh btw, here's a link to google group archive for CD cataloguing software:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...=Google+Search

Have fun browsing and finding the information you need!

 

[Bunnyears]

I suspected that. It just seemed too pat to find that in the review.

 

[zumaro]

Those Parrott disks of Tallis are really good value, especially considering the quality of the performances, which are among the finest available. There is also a very enjoyable Tallis disk with a good mixture of genres including secular and instrumental "Lamentations, Motets, String Music" - Theatre of Voices & Kings Noyse. It includes the piece that Vaughan Williams based his Tallis Fantasia on, which is interesting in itself.

 

[gratefulshrink]

This thread has inspired me to dig up all those Renaissance CDs I have at home. I only have a few with me at work, including:

Pierre de la Rue's missa "l'homme arme"/missa pro defunctis on Harmonia Mundi (Ensemble clement Janequin)

and

William Cornysh's Stabat Mater (Tasllis Scholars on Gimell records).

I'll try to post again from home....