Cristobal de MORALES
Missa Si bona suscepimus
Philippe VERDELOT
Si bona suscepimus
Thomas CRECQUILLON
Andreas Christi
famulus
The Tallis Scholars
Directed by Peter Phillips
Gimell CDGIM 033
[56.01]
Crotchet
Welcome back Gimell! After selling the label to Philips in a move to give
it better visibility and to secure improved world-wide distribution, label
founders Steve Smith (Producer) and Peter Phillips (Director of the Tallis
Scholars) discovered that, if anything, their CDs were losing profile and
becoming hidden amongst a plethora of Bocelli albums and 'Great Pianists'
compilations. Where once Gimell had clearly led the way amongst the companies
recording renaissance polyphony, there now tended to be a curious lack of
activity, perhaps due to Philips's less than enthusiastic marketing which,
ironically, had once been a particular strength of the independent Gimell.
So it was very good news to hear that the partners had regained control of
Gimell and that 'normal service' would 'be resumed as soon as possible'.
This new recording of Morales's fine mass Si bona suscepimus also
happens to be the best Tallis Scholars release since their much admired and
feted Clemens non Papa Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis.
The Morales mass has at its core a musical parody of Verdelot's Si bona
suscepimus of 1526. In his beautifully written booklet notes, Peter Phillips
describes Verdelot's motet as a 'sparse setting' which, perhaps, is true
when compared with Morales treatment. But in its own right, this is a wonderfully
moving seven minute outpouring which from the initial doubt expressed (Job
2:10) 'If we have received blessings from the hand of the Lord, why then
should we not endure misfortune?' there is a clear path towards a passionate
affirmation 'blessed be the name of the Lord', expressed in ever joyous
polyphony.
In the Morales mass itself, Peter Phillips, as we have come to expect from
him, keeps the music moving forward and the sense of line and purpose is
always at the forefront. The ecstatic Gloria and the tender Agnus
Dei are amongst the finest settings from the pen of Morales. It is, however,
the central Credo which marks this mass out as one of the key religious
works of the sixteenth century. At almost thirteen minutes, this powerful
and sustained journey towards an exultant Amen should be heard by
all lovers of an extraordinary period in the history of church music.
Finally there is a work from the now increasingly admired court composer
to the Emperor Charles V, Thomas Crecquillon. With admirable honesty Peter
Phillips admits in his booklet notes that the superb Pater peccavi
included on the Clemens non Papa CD and assumed to be one of his compositions
has now to be attributed to Crecquillon.
Andreas Christi famulus is, however, unquestionably by Crecquillon
and demonstrates again what a fine composer he was. As Phillips says, 'a
reappraisal of Crecquillon is obviously called for'. Indeed, the motet is
in danger of stealing the show on this wonderful CD. But perhaps this is
not so surprising when one considers who were present in the original audience.
The Order of the Golden Fleece (patron saint St. Andrew or 'Andreas') met
in Utrecht in 1546 and this motet was written specifically for the occasion.
Hopefully Francis 1 of France, Henry VIII of England and Charles V of Spain
enjoyed the premiere - we shall never know. But their presence certainly
brought out the best in Thomas Crecquillon.
Superb singing, fine sound, superb packaging.
Welcome back Gimell!
Reviewer
Simon Foster
Performance
Sound
