Willaert, A.: Musica Nova - The Petrarca Madrigals

$34.99 (COMPACT DISC)

Link to this COMPACT DISC

Quando fra l'altre donne (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


1.   Quando fra l'altre donne - 00:04:43


Io mi rivolgo (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


2.   Io mi rivolgo - 00:05:28


Quest'anima gentil (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


3.   Quest'anima gentil - 00:04:17


I begli occhi (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


4.   I begli occhi - 00:04:49


Occhi piangete (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


5.   Occhi piangete - 00:04:52


Io amai sempre (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


6.   Io amai sempre - 00:04:58


Amor, Fortuna (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


7.   Amor, Fortuna - 00:04:21


Che fai alma, che pensi? (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


8.   Che fai alma, che pensi? - 00:03:41


I vidi in terra (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


9.   I vidi in terra - 00:04:58


Ove ch'i posi (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


10.   Ove ch'i posi - 00:04:53


In qual parte del ciel (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


11.   In qual parte del ciel - 00:04:41


Pien d'un vago pensier (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


12.   Pien d'un vago pensier - 00:04:38

Piu volte gia (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


1.   Piu volte gia - 00:04:38


Giunto m'ha Amor (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


2.   Giunto m'ha Amor - 00:05:12


O invidia (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


3.   O invidia - 00:05:03


Passa la nave (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


4.   Passa la nave - 00:05:26


Lasso, ch'i ardo (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


5.   Lasso, ch'i ardo - 00:05:03


Onde tolse Amor (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


6.   Onde tolse Amor - 00:04:29


Lieti e pensose (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert
Conducted by: Denis Raisin-Dadre


7.   Lieti e pensose - 00:04:55


Cantai, hor piango (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


8.   Cantai, hor piango - 00:05:02


I piansi, hor canto (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


9.   I piansi, hor canto - 00:04:58


Aspro core (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


10.   Aspro core - 00:05:05


Mentre che 'l cor (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


11.   Mentre che 'l cor - 00:04:25


L'aura mia sacra (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


12.   L'aura mia sacra - 00:04:57


Quando nascesti, Amor (more info)
Composed by: Adrian Willaert


13.   Quando nascesti, Amor - 00:03:47

Reviews

Old school madrigals (Jan 19, 2010)
Reviewer:Craig Zeichner
The Flemish composer Adrian Willaert deserves wider recognition. A student of Jean Mouton, he made his name as a singer in the service of Cardinal Ippolito I d’Este and reached the height of his career as maestro di cappella at San Marco in Venice. Willaert was one of the key figures in the ascendency of 16th century Venetian music and his students included such luminaries as Ciprian de Rore... The Flemish composer Adrian Willaert deserves wider recognition. A student of Jean Mouton, he made his name as a singer in the service of Cardinal Ippolito I d’Este and reached the height of his career as maestro di cappella at San Marco in Venice. Willaert was one of the key figures in the ascendency of 16th century Venetian music and his students included such luminaries as Ciprian de Rore and Andrea Gabrieli. Many of Willaert’s sacred works were ground breakers in the development of music for double choir, so it’s no surprise that what Willaert we have on recordings is mostly sacred music.

But wait, there’s more! Willaert also composed chansons and madrigals and it’s his collection of Musica Nova madrigals that we have on this excellent recording by Singer Pur. Written around 1540, the Musica Nova collection is comprised of 25 madrigals that are scored for four to seven voices and are set to texts by Petrarch. This is serious music and showcase Willaert’s remarkably expressive style. Willaert’s writing is subtle and filled with delicate shifts in color and rhythm that draw the listener in. This is dense music and its subtleties require careful attention. They also require careful attention from the singers and that’s what makes these winning performances.

Singer Pur, a German group comprised of a soprano, three tenors, baritone, bass (the male singers were all choir boys in the Regensburger Domspatzen) and, for this recording, a guest countertenor sing brilliantly. I’ve become a big fan of the ensemble since I first heard their Factor Orbis (Ars Musici 232226) a terrific program of Renaissance sacred music. This music must be sung with precision and Singer Pur consistently delivers the goods with performances that are highly musical and technically polished. Take these madrigals in small servings because they are rich indeed, but the rewards are enormous. If there is any justice this recording will catapult this ensemble to greater recognition and set them on a path that explores more of the lesser-known madrigalists. For that matter, I hope they also take a shot at Willaert’s marvelous motets too.
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