Notes and Editorial Reviews
The disc's title comes from the name "magister" that often was applied to literate musicians of 14th-century England, whose music was copied on long rolls for performance. Although we don't know any of their names, we know a lot about the compositional style and technique of the composers represented on this recording, all of which is clearly and succinctly explained in the liner notes by Gothic Voices director Christopher Page. As we've come to expect from this vocal ensemble's 18 or so previous recordings (for this outing, there are five singers), here is an inventive, intelligent program, sung to the highest standard, that both enlightens and entertains. We hear examples of "same
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text" pieces, where all voices sing together the same words at the same time, as well as motets in which different texts are sung simultaneously. The program is filled out with several songs "connected with the political events of the reign of Edward II." Bold, deliberate rhythms share time with frisky syncopations; vibrant, open-spaced harmonies contrast with surprising parallel chords and spicy dissonances. The Gothic Voices' consistently clear, focused vocal sound maximizes the effect of the harmonic writing and gives the program a cohesive sonic context. Throughout these performances you get the impression that singing this music must be even more fun than listening. It's true, and once again the Gothic Voices show us that, musically speaking, the Middle Ages was anything but dark, dull, or driveling.
– David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com, reviewing original release Hyperion 67098 Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Ab ora summa nuncius by Anonymous
Performer:
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Leigh Nixon (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
2.
Inter usitata/Inter tot et tales by Anonymous
Performer:
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Stephen Charlesworth (Baritone)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
3.
Vexilla regni prodeunt by Anonymous
Performer:
Leigh Nixon (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
4.
Singularis laudis digna by Anonymous
Performer:
Catherine King (Alto),
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Leigh Nixon (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
5.
Dulcia dona redemptoris by Anonymous
Performer:
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto),
Leigh Nixon (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
6.
Summum regem honoremus by Anonymous
Performer:
Steven Harrold (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
7.
Omnis terra/Habenti dabitur by Anonymous
Performer:
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
8.
Copiose caritatis by Anonymous
Performer:
Stephen Charlesworth (Baritone)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
9.
Missus Gabriel de celis by Anonymous
Performer:
Leigh Nixon (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
10.
Pura, placens/Parfudement plure by Anonymous
Performer:
Stephen Charlesworth (Baritone),
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Julian Podger (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
11.
Letentur celi curia by Anonymous
Performer:
Leigh Nixon (Tenor),
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
12.
Salve Regina [Medieval] by Anonymous
Performer:
Charles Daniels (Tenor),
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Language: Latin
13.
Jesu fili virginis by Anonymous
Performer:
Steven Harrold (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Language: Latin
14.
Jesu fili/Jesu lumen by Anonymous
Performer:
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
15.
Sospitati dat egrotos by Anonymous
Performer:
Stephen Charlesworth (Baritone)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
16.
Exultemus et letemur by Anonymous
Performer:
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 13th Century; England
Language: Latin
17.
Stella maris illustrans omnia by Anonymous
Performer:
Leigh Nixon (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
18.
Venit dilectus by Anonymous
Performer:
Catherine King (Alto),
Stephen Charlesworth (Baritone),
Leigh Nixon (Tenor),
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Steven Harrold (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Language: Latin
19.
Pange lingua gloriosi by Anonymous
Performer:
Julian Podger (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Language: Latin
20.
O sponsa dei electa by Anonymous
Performer:
Catherine King (Alto),
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Leigh Nixon (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: by 1350; England
Language: Latin
21.
Generosa Jesse plantula by Anonymous
Performer:
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Catherine King (Alto),
Leigh Nixon (Tenor)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
22.
Musicorum collegium/In templo dei by Anonymous
Performer:
Steven Harrold (Tenor),
Julian Podger (Tenor),
Stephen Charlesworth (Baritone)
Conductor:
Christopher Page
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothic Voices
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century; England
Language: Latin
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