Search - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Bruno Turner, Mark Brown :: Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli; Stabat Mater; Missa l'Homme Armé

A voice teacher and an early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 11/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"PALESTRINA =PURITY OF COMPOSITION WHILE PRO CANTIONE ANTIQUA =PURITY OF SOUND.



Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)wrote in the dedication of his 'First Book of Motets' what he considered to be the function of music in the Church: 'The Function of Music in the Church is the seasoning of devotion by the added delight of sweetness of song and variety of harmony. Thus he describes for us all how we should perceive his music. Therefore the qualities are: purity, clarity, comparative brevity and simplicity, polyphony used with judicious reserve and the banishing of secular elements from his music. And this disc I believe speaks to this statement.



Pro Cantione Antiqua of London was founded in the 1960's by tenor James Griffett, countertenor Paul Esswood and conductor/producer Mark Brown. From the beginning Bruno Turner, musicologist and conductor was involved. This group was the leading British a cappella performing organization, prior to the Tallis Scholars, especially in Early Music.



Pro Cantione Antiqua perform in a good straightforward strong style with not too much overpointing. Their delivery is accurate and efficient, always musical and shapely. They are recorded here in suitable acoustic; not too closely miked and the acoustic is not overwhelming, but the recording remains atmospheric, giving something of the feel of the church.



IMPORTANT PURCHASING INFORMATION: You should know that these three selections are extracts taken from a five CD Box Set that is still available. The 'Missa L'Homme Arme' is taken from CD l of the set with singers: countertenors=C.Brett, T. Penrose, A. Stafford; tenors= W. Evans,J. Griffett,I. Partridge; basses= M. George, G. Jones, C. Keyte, S. Roberts. The selections 'Missa Papae Marcelli' and 'Stabat Mater' are taken from CD 5 of the set. The singers are: countertenors= C. Brett, T. Penrose, A. Stafford; tenors= W. Evans,J.Griffett,

N.Jenkins; basses= D. Beavan, M. George, G. Jones, and C. Keyte.



The Box set was the original compilation issued in 1994. It would be good to check prices as to what is more economical to buy for there are many listings of isolated selections from this package, and prices vary considerably. It's all great Palestrina, and even though the singers change from disc to disc, there is not a great deal of difference in quality between them. I personally prefer discs 3 and 4 and these are also sold separately in a two CD packet."