Consortium Carissimi - Virgo Maria: Motets Of Cristobal de Morales
STYLE: Classical RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 12071-1004 LABEL: Gaudeamus GAU343 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £14.99
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
Not a lot is known about Spanish composer Cristobal de Morales. Born, probably, in the late 15th century in Seville his motets (polyphonic choral pieces usually based on Scripture) still do it for me. Half the motets presented here were printed in anthologies between 1539 and 1552 and the texts, in Latin of course, are biblical. Consortium Carissimi, consisting of male and female vocalists (from counter tenor to bass) accompanied by original instruments, sing the motets impeccably. Their renditions here are consistently fine, bringing the full ethereal effect of this other worldly music to life. I was particularly stirred by "Manus Tuae Domine" (based on Job 10: 8-12) and "Clamabat Autem Mulier Chananea", a paraphrase of Matthew 15: 22-28, but throughout the music has a transporting quality which would soothe the most anguished soul.
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