STYLE: Classical RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 20583- LABEL: Ricercar 120109 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Dave Massey
French sacred music from the 17th century has a lot to commend it. To my shell-likes it has a more airy quality than English music of the same period with memorable melodies and generally more all round optimism. This delicacy comes across well in the "Est Secretum Valeriane" with it's open structure and almost understated clashes that the composers of the time were fond of. I guess the nearest I've experienced to Henri Du Mont in English music are some of the works of Dowland or Purcell. The singing on this disc is as good as you will hear anywhere and my heart was won by the string ensemble that the French do so well. It really is well worth the readies while the word on the streets is that there are two others in this series knocking around - I hope you don't beat me to them. Vive la difference or words to that effect!
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