Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Father Valentin Molitor (Molitor being the Latin form of Muller) was a Swiss Benedictine Monk at the Monastery of St Gallen during the turbulent days of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-reformation and yes, even peaceable Switzerland was caught up in these medieval troubles. The "Epinicion Marianum" ("Song of Praise to the Virgin Mary") were published in 1683 and contain a total of 18 motets. The collection comprises music for six feasts of Our Lady in the Roman liturgical calendar. Two five-part motets and a solo motet were intended for each feast, always with two obbligato violins and other instruments ad lib. On this recording a selection of pieces for all feasts can be heard under the direction of the harpsichordist and leader of the ensemble Musica Fiorita, Daniela Dolci (a native of Sicily), who studied early music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, specialising on historical keyboard instruments. The music is joyfully foot-tapping and if you want a quick comparison I would place it stylistically as well as chronologically between Bach and Mozart. I confess that I had not previously heard of Valentin Molitor but extensive research - well, a look in my preferred guidebook - also drew a blank so clearly he is obscure. If he wrote anything else I do not think it has been recorded but if there are other compositions of this standard then I for one would like to hear them.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.