Hans Leo HASSLER (1564-1612)
Missa Octava [16:39]
Cantate Domino, for 4 voices (1601) [1:37]
Psalm 119, for 5 voices (1607) [5:08]
Laetentur Coeli, for 4 voices (1601) [1:43]
Dixit Maria, for 4 voices (1591) [2:55]
Pater Noster, for 8 voices (1597) [2:56]
Laudate Dominum, for 4 voices (1612) [2:07]
Verbum Caro Factum Est, for 6 voices (1591) [2:35]
Octava Ensemble/Zygmunt Magiera
rec. Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kraków,
Poland, January 2011. DDD
DUX 0750 [37:59] 
Before even considering the content of this CD, the potential buyer is fully
entitled to wonder how Polish label DUX can justify an embarrassingly short
playing time for what is an unashamedly full-price product. 38 minutes? In
fact, DUX have done this before with the Octava Ensemble, just a couple of
years back - see review.
That whole 43-minute CD could have been squeezed onto this one alongside Hassler!
Except for those with money to burn, then, the music and performers will need
to be pretty special to make up for all the empty disc space being charged
for. The good news is, Hans Leo Hassler certainly fits the description as
one of Germany's most significant composers: though undoubtedly a conservative
in some regards, Hassler embraced innovation and had a major influence on
musical development in Germany. A double CD of his works released only a few
months ago by EtCetera was well received - see this
review, which also provides handy background information about him.
Aside from the quality of the music, conceptually the Octava Ensemble's programme
is original. The Missa Octava, sometimes referred to as the Missa Octo Vocum
- it is tautological to refer to it, as the track listing does, as 'Missa
Octava a 8' - is for two SATB quartets and consists of five sections: the
Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus-Benedictus and Agnus Dei. The special interest
lies in the intercalation between the sections of the Mass of the remaining
items on the disc, various motets by Hassler, as follows (Mass sections indicated
in italics):
Ecce Sacerdos Magnus
Introitus: Cantate Domino
Kyrie
Gloria
Graduale: Psalm 119: Ad Dominum cum Tribularer
Credo
Offertorium: Laetentur Coeli - Dixit Maria
Sanctus - Benedictus
Pater Noster
Agnus Dei
Communio: Laudate Dominum
Ite Missa est: Verbum Caro Factum est
The Octava Ensemble justify this ordering with the explanation that the CD
"observes the order of liturgical chants performed during the Extraordinary
Form of the Roman Rite" (the so-called 'Tridentine Mass'). Of course,
the tracks can easily be programmed on a CD player to play the five sections
of the Mass side by side and the other pieces separately - that works rather
nicely, in fact.
DUX's sound is usually reliable, and here the quality is good, albeit with
one major caveat: the sopranos are set too far back and at times their words
are very difficult to understand. That is a pity, because the sopranos seem
to have fine voices, and in general the Octava Ensemble sing well. But there
are problems with individual voices that need to be flagged up, chiefly that
the altos seem under-rehearsed. Part of the problem may be that one is female,
one male, but the fact is, the male especially has some technique issues that
need to be addressed - most notably the fact that his intonation is sometimes
off the mark. As a knock-on effect, the blend of voices often seems to jar
slightly.
Enunciation is good where perfectly audible, and attention to prosody fair.
With regard to pronunciation, the Octava Ensemble likewise commit relatively
few sins. Those with a knowledge of Classical Latin will cringe at certain
pronunciations of Latin texts whoever is singing them; singing groups often
seem to copy each other regardless of whether a pronunciation was ever justified
in the first place. As far as Octava are concerned, the main clash for English
ears will be the Germanic/Polish 'ts' for all 'c's, but at least that is hardly
more grating than the 'ch' sound that turns up constantly, admittedly not
without some justification, in the pronunciation of 'ce' and 'ci', and at
least there is appropriately fortis consonant articulation here. The pronunciation
of 'laetentur coeli' as 'let-ten-toor tsell-ee' may occasion little rejoicing
of the heavens, but how 'ae' should be sung, whether of Latin or Greek origin,
is probably a dead horse that it is pointless to flog.
The CD booklet is of high quality, both physically - glossy, thick, with a
striking design - and in terms of being informative. The notes are in Polish
and English, the latter passably well translated from the former, although
the tone is slightly pretentious - such as referring to the CD as a "record"
or the repeated use of ellipsis points. Full texts are thoughtfully included
in Latin, Polish and English. No track timings are given.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at reviews.gramma.co.uk
Though undoubtedly conservative Hassler’s music is pretty special. Shame about
the short running time.