March 2011

Trio Mediaeval: A Worcester Ladymass

A votive mass to the Virgin Mary survived from the 13th century in a Benedictine Abbey in the English Midlands: this week, the premier of the extraordinary new project by the ladies of the Trio Medieval.

Composer: Gavin Bryars

CD Info: ECM 2166

Missa Cantantibus organis: Allegri Miserere & the music of Rome

Before the great Palestrina's death in 1594, seven Roman musicians came together to write a twelve-part mass based on the elder composer's motet Cantantibus Organis; this is the centerpiece of this new recording by the Cardinall's Musick.

Composer: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/6–1594), Annibale Stabile (c1535–1595), Francesco Soriano (1548/9–1621), Giovanni Andrea Dragoni (c1540–1598), Ruggiero Giovannelli (c1560–1625), Prospero Santini (fl1591–1614), Curzio Mancini (c1553–after 1611), Felice Anerio (c1560–1614), Gregorio Allegri (1582–1652)

CD Info: CDA67860

The Celtic Viol II

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we will look at Jordi Savall continuing his series on Irish and Scottish traditions (featuring Andrew Lawrence-King, Irish harp).

Composer: John Playford (1718), John Walsh (1713), Nathaniel Gow (1763-1831), James Scott Skinner (1843-1927), Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976), O’Carolan (1670-1738), Tom Anderson (1910-1991)

CD Info: AVSA9878

The Borgia Dynasty, Part 1: Church and Power in the Renaissance

Last spring, we looked at the large book/recording packages by Jordi Savall dealing with Jerusalem and the Cathar Heresy; this year we will catch up first with his Grammy-award winning disc dedicated to the rise of the Borgia family.

Composer: Johannes Cornago, Cristóbal de Morales, Lluís del Milà, Bartomeu Cárceres, Mateo Flecha, Joan Cabanilles, Gilles Binchois, Guillaume Dufay, Josquin des Prez, Heinrich Isaac, Claude Goudimel

CD Info: AVSA98745