a Capella

This "two-fer" from the acclaimed French vocal troupe features Bach Hits Back and A Cappella Amadeus. Fans of the group's impeccable a cappella versions of classic Baroque, fugues, madrigals, and orchestral overtures will find much to love here, while those who pass the collective off as talented purveyors of whimsical novelty will only make it through the first two or three tracks.

Founded in 1991 by French choral director Laurence Equilbey, the 32-member Choeur de Chambre Accentus' 1996 Virgin recording of a cappella songs and ballads by Brahms and Schumann is as clear and lovely as a cloud-flecked sky in early October. Composed during his early years in Hamburg, Brahms' Gesänge, Op. 42, are robustly romantic, while his Gesänge, Op. 104, composed during his late maturity in Vienna, are autumnally nostalgic. Composed primarily in Dresden, Schumann wrote his Romanzen und Ballades about the same time he started his long, slow decline into madness. But in these performances by the Accentus Chamber Choir, all the music – early, mature, or melancholy – sounds crisp, alert, and strong.

Jordi Savall, La Capella Reial, Hesperion XX - Francisco Guerrero - Sacrae Cantiones (1992) {Naïve Astrée ES 9953 rel 2000}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 308 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 161 Mb
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© 1992, 2000 Auvidis / Naïve / Astrée | ES 9953
Classical / Renaissance / Choral

Sixteenth-century Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero is featured in a reissued disc of motets for four, five, six, eight and 12 voices, with and without instruments. They come from a handful of collections published between 1555 and 1597 and show Guerrero’s skill in evoking a wide range of moods, joyful, sombre and contemplative in turn. Jordi Savall’s ensemble is well-equipped to project the skilfully wrought structures and expressive allure of the music. Some of the pieces fare better than others in respect of vocal texture and ensemble. Tenors and basses occasionally lack tonal refinement but, at their strongest the performances provide a radiant conspectus of Guerrero’s masterly motets.

Various Artists - Zappa's Universe, A Celebration of 25 Years of Frank Zappa's Music (1993) {Verve 513 575-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 477 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 163 Mb
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© 1993 Verve / PolyGram | 513 575-2
Jazz / Rock / Soul / Experimental Rock / Acappella

ZAPPA'S UNIVERSE–a tribute to the work of the guitarist-composer, who was too ill to attend–contains the first recorded live version of "Jazz Discharge Party Hats," the first recorded live instrumental version of "Nite School," the first recorded dual-vocal group version of "Elvis Has Just Left The Building" and the first recorded a capella versions of "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" and "Heavenly Bank Account." "Sofa" won the 1994 Grammy Award for "Rock Instrumental Performance."