Roland De Lassus, Collegium Vocale Gent, Philippe Herreweghe - Psalmi Davidis Poenitentiales
STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 154440-25985 LABEL: Harmonia Mundi HMY2921831/32 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 2
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
Orlando di Lasso or Roland de Lassus if you prefer lived from 1532 to 1594 and was one of the most popular and influential composers of his day; in this welcome re-issue we can hear why. The texts are taken from the Biblical book of Psalms and comprise a series of impassioned outpourings of remorse by King David after his disgraceful affair with Bathsheba and its consequences were exposed by the prophet Nathan. The story is in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12 and is worth reading if you do not know it in order to get the context from this recording. In my imagination I hear David singing the blues as he pours out his grief before the Lord but of course no one really knows what these Psalms would have sounded like back then. De Lassus writes in the style of his day which was the close of the era of medieval chant and the dawn of Renaissance polyphony. Listening to it as music without giving any thought to the texts it is tranquil, melodic and beautifully sung by Collegium Vocale Gent under Philippe Herreweghe. However if you find the texts in your Bible and follow along the impact is much greater as we meet a great man brought low by his own lust but who then realises that the only valid response is to offer his broken heart to God. This double CD set was originally released to great acclaim in 2006 and is now available at the price of a single disc which makes it an easy recommendation.
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