Masses for Four Voices

On this CD:

1. Work(s) Unspecified Canzona, for organ (from Ricercari et canzoni ..., Libro primo, 1626)
Composed by Girolamo Frescobaldi
Performed by Pavel Cerny

2. Mass for 4 voices da cappella, for 4 voices & organ (from Mass for 4 voices & Psalms), SV 190
Composed by Claudio Monteverdi
Performed by Pavel Cerny
Conducted by Petr Danek

3. Mass for 4 Voices (SATB)
Composed by William Byrd

Conducted by Petr Danek

4. Division on a Ground in E minor, for viola da gamba, organ & theorbo (from the Division Violist, 1659)
Composed by Christopher Simpson
Performed by Pavel Cerny
Conducted by Petr Danek

Tracks:

Motet: Cantate Domine
Mass for four voices: Kyrie
Mass for four voices: Gloria
Mass for four voices: Credo
Mass for four voices: Sanctus
Mass for four voices: Benedictus
Mass for four voices: Agnus Dei
Motet: Domine, Ne In Furore
Mass 'In Illo Tempore' For Six Voices: Kyrie
Mass 'In Illo Tempore' For Six Voices: Gloria
Mass 'In Illo Tempore' For Six Voices: Credo
Mass 'In Illo Tempore' For Six Voices: Sanctus
Mass 'In Illo Tempore' For Six Voices: Benedictus
Mass 'In Illo Tempore' For Six Voices: Agnus Dei - I
Mass 'In Illo Tempore' For Six Voices: Agnus Dei - II

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorite CDs.......2003-02-17

The Mass for Four Voices is one of my favorite Masses (particularly the Gloria), for both liturgical performance and listening/appreciating, and this recording could not be more superb. If you are reading this, then you are likely familiar with the Sixteen, whose recordings as of recent (past decade) are top notch. The price is a shame, but this is truly a must have. If I were forced to throw away all but five CDs or so, this would be the first I'd set aside. To get an idea of my taste (which may help you), my other favorites include The Sixteen's Bach Motets, J.E. Gardener's (Monteverdi Choir) version of Handel's Dixit Dominus, Shaw's (don't laugh) Poulenc Mass in G and motets (for Advent and Lent). I also quite like organ works by Bach, Franck, Langlais, Widor, etc., and all sorts of choral Renaissance music, expecially Palestrina, Taverner, and Guerrero. Buy this!

Completely sublime.......2002-07-30

Monteverdi was one of the great composers of all time. These two masses and motets are absolutely sublime pieces. If you don't know them you won't be sad if you take the time to get to know them.

And The Sixteen perform these works with wonderful intonation and sensitive dynamics and phrasing. They have power and majesty as well as the soft and prayerful. What a great job.

I don't know about you, but I enjoy hearing pure intervals and dense polyphony. There is something about the vowels and consonants popping off here and there with the opening and closing and the changing of the vowels.

Who cares if the words can't be understood at times! Everyone knows them, that isn't the point! It is the transcendent quality of the music that we are after and Monteverdi provides us with musical wonders and The Sixteen and Harry Christophers (the sixteen harry christophers!)provide wonderful performances.