Virtus

SOMM Recordings announces the exciting label debut of Voice with Hildegard Portraits, marking the tenth anniversary of the canonisation of the 12th-century spiritual leader, theologian, mystic, scientist and composer, St. Hildegard of Bingen.

This is a very good collection of Gesualdo's sacred motet style, performed beautifully. Most of these pieces are much more conservative and less chromatic than his madrigals, but they are exquisite and expresive and every bit as competent as the styles of contemporaries such as Gesualdo's alter-ego, Palestrina. Much of this music makes his mental turmoil and fear of damnation over his infamous murders achingly clear, especially the disturbing mode changes and chromaticism on parts of the text that say things like "have mercy on me" and words like "my sorrow and "my tears".

Psallentes - Beghinae II - Plainchant Pro Series Vol. 7 (2016) {Le Bricoleur Official Digital Download}
FLAC (tracks) - 44kHz/16 bit - Official Digital Download (wimpmusic.com) -> 219 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 129 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 2016 Le Bricoleur | LBCD/07
Classical / Medieval / Early Music / Sacred Works / Vocal

Have you ever seen any beguines? We haven’t either. Those devout laywomen of centuries past are no more. But would you like to hear them sing? That is possible. The Beghinae of Psallentes sing works from manuscripts found in the beguinages of Bruges, Antwerp and Amsterdam, among others. Beguines? They appear before your very eyes.