The music contained on this recording ranges from the earliest known - regrettably unflattering - mention of Danes in music in the 9th century to Danish songs from the 15th century. It includes 13th century Parisian polyphony found in a remarkable Danish source and Danish versions of songs from the international repertory and thus illustrates both a Danish contribution to European music and the musical contacts that Denmark enjoyed with the rest of Europe in the Middle Ages.
"Freude, schöner Götterfunken!" (Joy, fair sparks of the gods) seems to be the cry of the fifth and penultimate GENUIN CD by the Camerata Limburg of the complete recording of Schubert's works for male choir. The title of the program is "Elysium," which says it all. The album is a pleasurable stroll through heavenly realms: known and unknown, from poems by Schiller, Klopstock and many, many other wonderful poets. The interpretation is on par with the entire collection: an immaculate ensemble sound and an interpretation wonderfully worked out by conductor Jan Schumacher and his masters. The only drawback? The next album in autumn will be the last of this series.
Complete Motets of Machaut (re-release) Since the beauty, richness and diversity of such an oeuvre made it impossible to choose amongst the 23 motets by the Canon of Reims, the Musica Nova ensemble decided to embark on the adventure of a complete recording. Two years of work and research were necessary for putting this programme together, as the musicians strove for an in-depth approach to each motet in terms of both style and an instrumentation made possible by the very structure of the ensemble. This disc, which had a resounding critical success when first released, offers the first complete translation in modern French of Guillaume de Machaut's motets. An indispensable set!