Palestrina: Missa Ecce ego Johannes

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For sheer beauty of sound, this recording is unsurpassed.
The choice of a programme of music by Palestrina, the one composer ever to have been honoured by official ecclesiastical recognition,... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: CDA67099
Label: Hyperion
Length: 64 minutes

Palestrina: Laudate pueri

Album only

Westminster Cathedral Choir
James O’Donnell

Palestrina: Peccantem me quotidie

Album only

Westminster Cathedral Choir
James O’Donnell

Palestrina: Tribulationes civitatum

Album only

Westminster Cathedral Choir
James O’Donnell

Palestrina: Missa Ecce Ego Johannes

Album only

Westminster Cathedral Choir
James O’Donnell

Palestrina: Tu es Petrus

Album only

Westminster Cathedral Choir
James O’Donnell

Palestrina: Magnificat quarti toni

Album only

Westminster Cathedral Choir
James O’Donnell

Palestrina: Cantantibus organis

Album only

Westminster Cathedral Choir
James O’Donnell

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Still thought of today as the grand master of the polyphonic style, Palestrina was highly regarded and much published in his lifetime. His output comprises one hundred and four firmly attributed Masses, over three hundred and seventy-five motets, sixty-eight offertories, at least sixty-five hymns, thirty-five Magnificats, four (possibly five) sets of Lamentations, and over a hundred and forty madrigals. The six-voice Missa Ecce ego Johannes presented here is based on an unknown model. The text 'Ecce ego Johannes', from the Book of Revelation, is used for the chapter (capitulum) at Vespers on All Saints' Day, and it appears elsewhere (in the Sarum books, for example) as an antiphon at Matins for the same feast. The character of Palestrina's setting, however, suggests that it might well have been based on a polyphonic model. It is a powerful, confident work on a par with the Missa Papae Marcelli and Assumpta est Mariajust listen to the very first notes of the Kyrie. The motets that accompany the Mass show a more festive side to Palestrina, with exuberant melismatic writing. All of these pieces deserve to be better known and there can be no choir better equipped to show the world the beauty of this music.

Reviews

2010

For sheer beauty of sound, this recording is unsurpassed.
The choice of a programme of music by Palestrina, the one composer ever to have been honoured by official ecclesiastical recognition, was inspired. This CD represents several high points of solemn liturgy; a six-part polyphonic Mass, Ecce ego Johannes, and two groups of motets, including a festal psalm, two penitential pieces, antiphons for the feasts of St Peter and St Cecilia and a solemn alternatimMagnificat. What's very admirable about the whole performance is the excellent integration of the choir. Ivan Moody underlines in his notes Palestrina's skill in the seamless interweaving of homophony and flowing counterpoint; the choir, in its turn, moves from one to the other with the utmost ease and art. In particular, the give-and-take of dovetailing produces a perfect balance.
In this respect, top praise for the trebles, with a firm, mature tone and assured flexibility.

Palestrina: Missa Ecce ego Johannes

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