Composer: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Performer: The Sixteen
Conductor: Harry Christophers
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Coro
Catalogue: COR16106
Release: 2013
Size: 281 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Stabat mater
02. Ad Caenam Agni Providi (Hymn)
Song of Songs
03. Vineam Meam Non Custodivi
04. Si Ignores Te, O Pulchra Inter Mulieres
05. Pulchrae Sunt Genae Tuae
06. Regina coeli
07. Improperium Exspectavit Cor Meum (Offertory)
08. Confitebor Tibi Domine (Offertory)
09. Terra Tremuit (Offertory)
Missa Regina caeli
10. Kyrie
11. Gloria
12. Credo
13. Sanctus
14. Benedictus
15. Agnus Dei
16. Congratulamini mihi omnes
A towering figure in Renaissance polyphony, Palestrina is arguably one of the greatest composers of Liturgical music of all time. Harry Christophers and The Sixteen continue their exploration of his work with a disc of music for the Easter period.
Many of the works on this new recording celebrate the joyful part of Easter – the Resurrection – and the central mass on this disc is the wonderfully inspired Missa Regina caeli. The Mass is based on the well-known, immediately recognisable, plainchant Antiphon Regina caeli and the recording also includes the 8-voice motet of the same name.
As with volumes 1 and 2 this disc also includes three of Palestrina’s settings of the Song of Songs alongside three offertories for the Easter period and the hymn Ad caenam agni providi.
This disc would not be complete, however, without the exquisite 8-voice Stabat Mater – possibly Palestrina’s most famous piece in current times and a work that emphasises the other side of the Easter story – the agony and pain of the Crucifixion.
A number of the works from Palestrina Volume 3 will feature in The Choral Pilgrimage 2013 alongside Miserere settings by Allegri and MacMillan (both of which are available on the CORO label).