Dear singing Brothers and Sisters, it seems to me, that You are not only performing a masterpiece of sacred music, but that God‘s Grace is dwelling in Your midst. Keep on singing for His greater glory. Hopefully You will be soon our beloved guests in Sardinia.
Ironically they didnt construct music with the same harmonic concepts the way we do today. Renaissance music like this was constructed with the idea that each musical line was a separate melody and there were lots of requirements and rules for how to put the separate lines together.
Absolutely - every voice perfectly balanced, everyone in time to the microsecond. Also: does anyone else but me hear in the "O mater Dei" section the Hamburg melody of "When I survey the wondrous cross..."?
The section in triple time is so utterly perfect. It would be the most memorable part of the piece if it weren’t for the even more sublime ending. One of a small handful of truly unique works of early music.
Très belle interprétation de Josquin des Prez, musicien si difficile à interpréter car sa musique est comme une ligne tendue qui peut casser à tout moment. Merci pour une aussi juste performance.
Another piece of musical perfection to add to my eclectic choral library, and of course sung by this wonderful ensemble. I'm not an expert by any means in what or how the sounds are achieved but know when something is just perfect. They embody that 100% in my mind.
You may be no expert, but you've got a good ear. the main thing your ear is noticing is the lack of vibrato -- a straight, pure tone, rather than a wobbly one. Deviation from the pure tone was never a good thing until about the middle of the Baroque period, when ornamentation of any and every kind was pitched into the pot, but it didn't become a staple of music performance until the early 20th century. Compare a recording of Caruso to Pavarotti, and you'll probably hear a distinct difference. Another thing is that this piece is polyphonic, not harmonic. Each voice has its own distinct melodic line during any given lyrical phrase, and they swap melodies in an interweaving of voices, rather than the "stacking" of voices in harmony. It has a gorgeous, shimmering quality, doesn't it?
Ave maria Gratia plena dominus tecum Benedicta tu in mulieribus Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus Sancta Maria mater Dei Ora pro nobis peccatoribus Nunc et in ora mortis nostrae Amen ❤️
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, Virgo serena. Ave cujus conceptio, solemni plena gaudio, celestia, terrestria, nova replet letitia. Ave cujus nativitas, nostra fuit solemnitas, ut lucifer lux oriens verum solem preveniens. Ave pia humilitas, sine viro fecunditas, cuius annunciatio nostra fuit salvatio. Ave vera virginitas, immaculata castitas, cuius purificatio nostra fuit purgatio. Ave preclara omnibus angelicis virtutibus, cujus fuit assumptio nostra glorificatio. O Mater Dei, memento mei. Amen.
As a composition student 60 years ago, my counterpoint lecturer told me I wrote better Josquin than I did Palestrina. That was in the days of close examination of Palestrina's vocal style and JSBach's instrumental writing. A great performance of one of Josquin's best known works, in a setting so apt for such voices.
Sublime and transcendent: Josquin in a nutshell. Of the numerous interpretations I've listened to/purchased, this is unquestionably the best. Josquin! over your contemporaries presiding In your music all earthly cares subsiding; Your notes rise up to heaven's vault, Our hearts consoled, all souls exalt In Josquin's music there is no fault.
@Karen S I read the New Yorker article today and found my way here as well. I've liked Thomas Tallis music and am happy to find others who composed this way.
Jewel of Flanders or rich pearl of France - On either side the border may we hear Sweet lines of delectation for the ear, Quiv’ring and turning in their dainty dance. Unless the heart should see in you a mirror - Its vanity made glass, its pride made less - No image of you may be seen, unless Dim shadows cast, your notes upon a hearer. Each voice raised high to praise you in your days Shouts loud no longer, and is heard no more. Persisting still: each voice within your score, Raised high in praise to He who hears always. Each instrument of music-making is Zealous for your touch, as you for His.
une splendeur ! un subtil jeu entre les voix dont une se détache, puis une autre... A faire entendre à ceux qui croient encore au Moyen Age "âge de ténèbres"
Normal, ça fait plusieurs décennies que la guerre de cent ans, le Grand Schisme et le Moyen Age tardif sont terminés; on est en plein essor de la Renaissance.
