Messe de Noel

Gerard Lesne has led a unique career: largely self-taught, he began as a jazz and rock singer who not only converted to more serious music, but became identified as one of the leading countertenors in the early music genre. He has sung with several early music ensembles, including the Clemencic Consort and with the group he founded, Il Seminario Musicale. The sound quality of Lesne's voice has been described as the male counterpart to the female contralto.

The French word ‘noël’ is closely associated with the organ, and this new recording from the Breton organist Christian Lambour introduces the listener to works from the 17th to the 20th century. Noëls provided organists with the opportunity to introduce variations on popular tunes, often making use of Christmas carols and shepherd songs. The evocative sound of these traditional melodies – sung around the fire during advent – are assured to get you in l’esprit de Noël!

An extraordinary enterprise … As an experience of the sounds and styles of French organ culture this boxed set, it seems to me, is indispensable … the body of music is mostly, here, not created but simply made alive by the apt choice of instruments … it is a resource to which to return with delight.

Various Artists - Early Music: From Ancient Times To The Renaissance (2010) {10CD Set Harmonia Mundi HMX 2918163 72}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.29 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.75 Mb
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© 2005, 2010 Harmonia Mundi | HMX 2918163 72
Classical / Medieval / Renaissance / Chamber Music / Early Music

Originally issued in the Century series in 2005, this EARLYMUSIC set by the artists of harmonia mundi now returns to invite you to travel the centuries in music. In 10 CDs and more than 12 hours listening, this unique guide will allow you to (re)discover the music of the past and develop your musical knowledge. Each CD is accompanied by a detailed booklet dealing with the musical, historical and geographical context, closely linked with key elements from the visual arts of the appropriate period. From the ancient world to 1600: the pleasure of discovery is complete, for eyes and ears alike!

A generous selection of Poulenc’s wonderful and varied liturgical works has been recorded here by Westminster Cathedral Choir, whose natural and unforced style of singing is perfectly suited to the composer’s ‘naïve’, spontaneous outpourings. The Mass in G major is one of the most important a cappella works of the twentieth century, and includes some of Poulenc’s most beautiful and tender music.