Joan Pau PUJOL (1570-1626)
Qué decís que visteis vos, a 8 [3:51]
Missa sexti toni, a 8 [17:45]
Beatus vir, a 8 [5:53]
Magnificat secundi toni, a 8 [5:46]
Regina caeli, a 8 [2:54]
Alma, herido me tenéis, a 6 [5:01]
Sacra majestad, sed preso, a 7 [6:11]
Exaudi Nos/Joan Grimalt
rec. 27-28 March 2009, Sanata church, Lliçà de Munt, Catalonia. DDD
COLUMNA MÚSICA ICM0226 [47:21]
The life and music of Juan Pujol (or in Catalan Joan Pau Pujol) span the 'Golden
Age' of Spanish polyphony and the polychoral traditions developed in the seventeenth
century in Italy. Pujol is a not uncommon Catalan name; this little-known
composer is not to be confused with any of at least five other composers of
that name, all of whom are variously represented in the current catalogue.
Joan Pau Pujol is not. Indeed this spirited and convincing recording from
Exaudi nos which includes his Missa sexti toni is the only one currently available
of these interesting works.
It would do the listener well to go beyond the cult of the Catalan and the
curiosity value of this music. While it's true that it inhabits a nicely-concentrated
and intimate world in the way that the music of some of Pujol's contemporaries
most definitely does not, the compositional style, the urbanity and the transparent
delicacy of his musical ideas places this music well within the mainstream
of European music of the time.
One of the qualities of the music which should strike you at first is its
naturalness; there's no sense of conventions being so strictly adhered to
that the painting is forced in any way. And painting it is: Pujol's world
is an expressive one. Colour and texture play important parts. And Exaudi
nos makes the most of the opportunities to convey celebration, exhilaration,
veneration and the many other emotions which this sacred music unequivocally
elicits.
Much of the sense of space and legitimate majesty - without any undue emphasis
on ritual, for example - come from Pujol's use of a double choir. For its
size (15 strong) Exaudi nos, which also has only two other CDs to its credit,
makes the most of this world. They're instrumentalists as well as vocalists.
Like many of such specialist groups, they dedicate themselves as much to research
in the field - indeed to recovery of music from this repertoire. They also
emphasise a dialogue with their audiences based on respect for its spirituality
and place as religious creations. Interestingly the group was originally founded
in Vienna in 1980; yet only in the last ten years has concentrated on Catalan
music.
Variety is also a characteristic that is to the fore in Pujol's music yet
not a spurious dabbling in different 'effects' for their own sake. Rather
we experience a generous and somewhat relaxed command of technique. This flows
from detachment, confidence and familiarity with the genres and how they can
be bent to produce the engagement between composer, performer and listener
in the interests of sober liturgical service. This music is gently ingenious
and genuine; it has its own momentum and logic. These performances convey
such strengths admirably.
The presentation of this CD, for all it lasts barely three-quarters of an
hour, is good. Not only is the acoustic clear without using reverberation
for effect; the recording was made in a small stone church, which gives it
an excellent atmosphere. The booklet that comes in the 'digipak' is full of
useful information … from brief biographical details, to the likely pronunciation
of contemporary Catalan in the case of the three villancicos, to details
of Exaudi nos and how they arrived at the programme; and full texts. Although
this composer may invite a crusade on his behalf, the whole project has been
executed calmly and professionally. Well worth a good look.
Mark Sealey