Despres: Messe Ave Maris Stella

Among the distinctive details here are that it is performed at probably the lowest possible pitch...the textures in general are exceptionally clear and, partly as a result of that pitch, the... — Gramophone Magazine, August 2014 More…

Release Date: 3rd Mar 2014
Catalogue No: CC72632
Label: Challenge Classics
Length: 60 minutes

Josquin: Hymnus: Ave maris stella

Work length7:04

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Cappella Pratensis

anon.: Introitus: Rorate Celi

Work length2:19

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Cappella Pratensis

Josquin: Messe Ave Maris Stella

Work length7:31

$2.00

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Cappella Pratensis

I. Kyrie

Track length2:40

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II. Gloria

Track length4:51

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anon.: Graduale: Tollite Portas

Work length4:12

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Cappella Pratensis

anon.: Alleluia: Ave Maria

Work length2:26

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Cappella Pratensis

Josquin: Missa Ave Maris Stella: III. Credo

Work length7:03

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Cappella Pratensis

anon.: Offertorium: Ave Maria

Work length1:58

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Cappella Pratensis

Josquin: Motet: Mittit ad Virginum

Work length7:33

$1.50

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Cappella Pratensis

anon.: Prefatio

Work length3:33

$1.00

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Cappella Pratensis

Josquin: Missa Ave Maris Stella: IV. Sanctus

Work length7:30

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Cappella Pratensis

anon.: Pater Noster

Work length1:11

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Cappella Pratensis

Josquin: Missa Ave Maris Stella: V. Agnus Dei

Work length4:07

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Cappella Pratensis

anon.: Communio: Ecce virgo

Work length0:41

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Cappella Pratensis

Josquin: Motet: Missus est Gabriel angelus

Work length3:08

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Cappella Pratensis

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The Dutch-based vocal ensemble Cappella Pratensis was founded in 1987, and is renowned for championing the music of Josquin Desprez and other polyphonists of the 15th and 16th centuries. On this recording they perform Josquin’s Missa Ave maris stella under the direction of the ensemble’s current conductor Stratton Bull.

Cappella Pratensis combines historically informed performance practice with inventive programmes and original interpretations based on scholarly research and artistic insight. As in Josquin’s time, the members of Cappella Pratensis perform from a central music stand, singing from the original notation scored in a large choir book. This approach, together with attention to the linguistic origin of the compositions and the modal system on which it is based, offers a unique perspective on the repertoire.

This recording aims to recapture a sense of the ceremonial context that would have surrounded Josquin’s sacred polyphony, in this case the Saturday Mass for the Blessed Virgin that took place is the Sistine Chapel in Rome during Advent. In order to approach closer to the original performance practices of the papal chapel, Cappella Pratensis here sings whenever possible from scale copies of the very books used by the papal chapel.

Here, as then, the ensemble is all male (there were no boys in the papal chapel) and the number of singers is small, just two to a part, with duo and trio sections taken by solo voices. In light of the fact that most papal singers in this period were native Frenchspeakers, the Latin of Josquin’s polyphony as well as the Proper plainsongs is sung with a French accent.

For Challenge Classics, Cappella Pretensis have previously recorded Requiems by Ockeghem and De La Rue (CC72541) and ‘Vivat Leo! Music for a Medici Pope’ (with Joshua Rifkin, CC72366).

Reviews

August 2014

Among the distinctive details here are that it is performed at probably the lowest possible pitch...the textures in general are exceptionally clear and, partly as a result of that pitch, the lines are beautifully relaxed...Another special delight here is the inclusion of the Proper chants for the Mass.

Despres: Messe Ave Maris Stella

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