Performer: VocaMe
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Christophorus
Catalogue: CHR77420
Release: 2018
Size: 299 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. anon: Tota pulchra es
02. anon: Ave Gloriosa Mater Salvatoris
03. Gautier De Chatillon: Sol sub nube latuit
anon: La Messe de Tournai
04. Kyrie
05. Von Sanct Victor Adam: O Maria, stella maris
06. anon: Benedicamus
anon: La Messe de Tournai
07. Gloria in excelsis Deo
08. anon: Baculi sollemnia
09. Tuotilo: Cuncti potens
10. anon: Deus pacis
anon: La Messe de Tournai
11. Sanctus
12. Von Sanct Victor Adam: Salve mater salvatoris
13. anon: Orbis factor
anon: La Messe de Tournai
14. Benedictus
15. anon: Audi pontus
anon: La Messe de Tournai
16. Agnus Dei
17. anon: Audi pontus
18. anon: Circa mundi vesperam
anon: La Messe de Tournai
19. Ite missa est
Spreading throughout Europe from the 12th century onwards, the vast Gothic church spaces, like wonders of stone suffused with light, inspired the Ensemble VocaMe to produce this CD. Four female singers with an enchanting fusion in unison and large spectra in polyphonic singing, along with the tonal colours of multi-instrumentalist Michael Popp, represent the musical extension and interpretation of the church space. The program consists of sacred music that evolved up to the Gothic period. At its centre is the Tournai Fair held in the 14th century. It is regarded as the earliest testimony of a mass which was entirely set to music, as evidenced by medieval manuscripts.
During the Gothic period, Paris and its cathedral were one of the most important cultural centres from whence the new Gothic spirit spread throughout Europe. The intellectual elite of this period gathered around its large cathedral and many new compositions of the 13th century emanated from this environment, the so-called ‘Notre Dame School’. The compositions, like the Tournai Mass, are part of a high culture of music – music that could probably only be heard in the great cathedrals.
VocaMe combines this with more folk-like or modest melodies from the Codex Calixtinus (book of Saint James) and the Las Huelgas Codex, among others. Thus, a Gothic soundscape emerges, ranging from simple monophony to the splendour of medieval polyphony.