VICTORIA
Missa Gaudeamus; Missa Pro Victoria; Motets.
The Cardinall's Musick/Andrew
Carwood
ASV Gaudeamus GAU
198
77'43"
Crotchet
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These two masses are well contrasted, making it an interesting CD. The Missa
Gaudeamus (1576) is in six parts and backward looking. The incipit
Gaudeamus can be heard in the tenor part throughout and it relates
to Morales. The other, published in 1600, is for nine voices and based on
the secular chanson La guerre: ecoutez tous gentilz by Jannequin.
It contrasts dramatically a five part choir with four part writing. (An
(optional) organ part indicates the possibility that instruments were used.)
The performances, all unaccompanied, are smooth and well up to The Cardinall's
Musick's reliable standard. Of particular interest is Andrew Carwood's
'confession' that this was an example of one of those recordings sessions,
not all of which can be 'a joy and delight'. Bad weather, external noise
and a flu outbreak which decimated the singers necessitated two venues (Arundel
and Hampstead) and a number of substitute singers, all duly accredited in
track by track listings, a tribute to perseverance and candour, with revealing
transparency about recording problems which are usually kept private. It
would need sharper ears than mine to be alert to these complications.
The presentation and documentation is comprehensive and, having its main
item sharing their name, it is a particularly worthy addition to ASV's Gaudeamus
label!
Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
