Notes and Editorial Reviews
FOUR CENTURIES OF CHANT
•
Anonymous 4
•
HARMONIA MUNDI 2907546 (76:22
Text and Translation)
This compilation of chants from 10 earlier discs, all of which mixed chant with polyphony, appears just in time for the national tour that the ensemble undertook in October. While the members of the group went their separate ways four years ago after making their last new recording, they reunite occasionally for limited activities such as this tour. Most of their recorded programs have drawn chants from medieval sources that
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were related to the polyphonic selections that accompanied them. Hence these are largely less familiar melodies, even the favorite
Ave maris stella
in a variant version.
Spiritui sancto
is a responsory and
O ignis spiritus
is a sequence, both by Hildegard, while
Ascendens Jesus
is an offertory from the Codex Calixtinus that includes a verse not found in Carl Ott’s collection of offertories with verses (it had been recorded only in the complete
Liber Sancti Jacobi
from a small Spanish label). One of the outstanding selections is the familiar responsory
Ex ejus tumba
with its prosa “Sospitati,” never recorded more beautifully than here. The most unusual selection is the Magyar version of the Te Deum.
The most striking aspect of the chant singing here is the ability of four voices to sound as one. This results in a loveliness of tone that sets them apart from even the finest choirs and a warmly blended sound that distinguishes them from solo singers. This compilation will appeal to chant lovers who do not especially embrace the rarified beauties of medieval polyphony. Medievalists will already have most of the original programs.
FANFARE: J. F. Weber
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Works on This Recording
1.
Gaude virgo gratiosa by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Written: England
Length: 1 Minutes 58 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Steve Barnett.
Engineers: Brad Michel; Peter McGrath.
Composition written: England (13th Century - 14th Century).
2.
Felix Namque by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 1 Minutes 46 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Steve Barnett.
Engineers: Brad Michel; Peter McGrath.
3.
Ave maris stella by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 3 Minutes 36 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Steve Barnett.
Engineers: Brad Michel; Peter McGrath.
4.
O gloriosa Domina by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 2 Minutes 2 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
Engineer: Tony Faulkner.
5.
Stabat iuxta Christi crucem by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Written: England
Length: 5 Minutes 31 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
Engineer: Tony Faulkner.
6.
Ave regina caelorum by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 1 Minutes 30 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
Engineer: Tony Faulkner.
7.
Ad sepulcrum beati Iacobi by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 2 Minutes 13 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
8.
Iacobe servorum by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 2 Minutes 14 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
9.
Ascendens Ihesus in montem by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 3 Minutes 46 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
10.
Isten, téged by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 6 Minutes 3 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
11.
Spiritui Sancto honor sit by Hildegard of Bingen
Period: Medieval
Written: 12th Century; Germany
Length: 6 Minutes 55 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
12.
Que est ista by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 0 Minutes 52 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
13.
O quam glorifica by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 3 Minutes 29 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
14.
Recordare, Virgo Mater by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 4 Minutes 37 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
15.
Ex eius tumba/Sospitati dedit egros by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 6 Minutes 18 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
16.
Iudicii signum by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Written: 10th Century; Spain
Length: 6 Minutes 10 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
17.
O lux beata trinitas by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 2 Minutes 17 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
18.
Quinque prudentes virgines by Anonymous
Period: Medieval
Length: 4 Minutes 12 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
19.
O ignis spiritus Paracliti by Hildegard of Bingen
Period: Medieval
Written: 12th Century; Germany
Length: 7 Minutes 53 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
20.
Beata nobis gaudia by Hildegard of Bingen
Period: Medieval
Length: 2 Minutes 49 Secs.
Notes: Producer: Robina G. Young.
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