Paul Pauli

Many people imagine the music of 17th century Venice was so fabulous that the great 16th century polyphonists were forgotten. Not so–particularly in the case of Masses. (Indeed, after arriving at San Marco, Monteverdi ordered copies of Masses by Palestrina and Lassus.) Paul McCreesh's Venetian reconstruction reflects this practice, adding motets and canzonas by the Gabrielis to Lassus's Missa Congratulamini. Particularly interesting is the ceremony opening the service, where the Doge and the Archbishop reenact the arrival of the disciples at the empty sepulchre.

One of the greatest composers of the 16th century, Orlando di Lasso was born in c.1532 in Mons in Hainaut, a Franco-Flemish prov­ince. As a chorister he sung in St Nicholas church choir. Entering the service of the Sicilian viceroy Ferdi­nando Gonzaga he travelled to Italy in 1544, lived in Sicily and Milan, and later went on to Naples and Rome. He moved to Ant­werp in about 1555-56. At the invitation of the Bavarian Prince Albert V he joined the Munich court choir in 1556. He remained maestro di capella of the Bavarian court until his death.

Some people believe that music which has fallen into oblivion is simply not good enough to survive the passing of time. In some cases that may be true, but as many music of the 17th and 18th centuries was written for one performance at a specific occasion it is rather surprising that so much material has been preserved. When music is rediscovered in libraries or archives it often turns out to be of surprising quality, even if the composers are totally unknown to us. The disc to be reviewed here is another example of music which fully deserves to be brought to our attention.

Some people believe that music which has fallen into oblivion is simply not good enough to survive the passing of time. In some cases that may be true, but as many music of the 17th and 18th centuries was written for one performance at a specific occasion it is rather surprising that so much material has been preserved. When music is rediscovered in libraries or archives it often turns out to be of surprising quality, even if the composers are totally unknown to us. The disc to be reviewed here is another example of music which fully deserves to be brought to our attention.