Notes and Editorial Reviews
Don't be alarmed. The sound you hear at this disc's opening is not a flaw in your sound system: it's rattles. The rattles are a symbol of "both death and hope" that colors the music of the Polish Good Friday liturgy. This very thoughtfully programmed disc, beautifully performed by both voices and instruments, presents a variety of chants, solo and harmonized songs, hymns, and lamentations known as "planctus" that give us a fine introduction to church music typical of 15th and 16th century Polish Lenten services. The singers from the Collegium Vocale Bydgoszcz, and the early instruments--mazanki (early Polish violin), pozytyw (chamber organ), harfa gotycka (Gothic harp), recorder, sackbut, gemshorn, and of course, rattles, all performed by
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members of Ars Nova--are extremely well matched, and the particular combinations of voices and instruments invariably enhance the songs' textual/expressive concerns while ensuring melodic prominence where required. At one point, the text of a song is chanted against a droning hurdy-gurdy background by actress/singer Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska; at another, following an eerie dialogue between two gemshorns, she recites the Polish text of The Holy Cross Lament: Listen Dear Brethren. The effect of her voice, the instruments, and the ambience of the Warsaw church where this recording was made in 1996 is affecting and very well captured by the masterful engineering. The program ends with a hymn set to a German song whose title (We Vile Sinners), open harmony, and bouncy rhythmic character is reminiscent of later early American hymns. This is a superbly produced and well-thought-out program that will please--and pleasantly surprise--listeners who enjoy early liturgical music. [9/23/2005]
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Be glad, life giving Cross by Traditional
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
2.
The wisdom of the almighty Father by Cyprian Bazylik
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Renaissance
Written: by 1559
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
3.
Artomius Cantional: Jesus Christ, God the Man by Traditional
Performer:
Barbara Toporowska (Chamber Organ)
Written: Poland
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
Notes: Arranger: Jan z Lublina.
4.
All dwellers of the heavenly court by Traditional
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Written: Poland
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
5.
Seklucjan Hymnbooks: Almighty God, our heavenly Father by Traditional
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Written: Poland
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
Notes: Composition written: Poland (1550 - 1559).
6.
Jesus was sold by Judas for humble money by Wladyslaw of Gielniów
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Renaissance
Written: 1488; Poland
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
7.
Domine Jesu Christe by Anonymous
Performer:
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Medieval
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
8.
Crux fidelis by Anonymous
Performer:
Jacek Urbaniak (Gemshorn),
Czeslaw Palkowski (Gemshorn),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals)
Period: Medieval
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
9.
O crux benedicta by Anonymous
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Renaissance
Written: Portugal
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
10.
O Jesus how mercilessly you were tortured by Traditional
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Renaissance
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
11.
It was for you that God let His side be pierced by Traditional
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Renaissance
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
12.
Our almighty God by Traditional
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Renaissance
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
13.
O wir armen Sünder by Johann Bertram
Performer:
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Voice),
Teresa Budzisz-Krzyzanowska (Spoken Vocals),
Mariusz Gebel (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Jacek Urbaniak
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ars Nova Ensemble Varsovie,
Bydgoszcz Collegium Vocale
Period: Renaissance
Written: 1561; Germany
Date of Recording: 1996
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
Language: Polish
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