O Virgo Benedicta - Music of Marian Devotion from Spain’s Century
of Gold
Juan NAVARRO (c.1530-1580) Regina caeli [3:42]
Francisco GUERRERO (1528-1599) Maria Magdalene [7:59]; Ave
Virgo sanctissima [3:53]; Pastores loquebantur [6:53]; Agnus
Dei from Missa Sancta et immaculata [3:31]
Alonso LOBO (1555-1617) Kyrie from Missa Maria Magdalene
[3:59]; Ave Regina caelorum [3:37]; Sanctus from Missa Maria
Magdalene [2:51]; Benedictus from Missa Maria Magdalene
[2:47]
Juan ESQUIVEL (c.1561-1615?) Gloria from Missa Ave Virgo
sanctissima [5:15]
Rodrigo CEBALLOS (1530?-1581) O Virgo Benedicta [5:06]
Juan ESQUIVEL (c.1561-1615?) Credo from Missa Ave Virgo sanctissima
[9:49]
Sebastián de VIVANCO (c.1551-1622) O sacrum convivium [4:06];
Magnificat Primi Toni [11:34]
The Marian Consort/Rory McCleery
rec. 10-12 January 2010, Wadham College Chapel, Oxford DDD
Latin texts and English translations included
DELPHIAN DCD34086 [75:10] 
The Marian Consort is a group of six singers – two sopranos, counter-tenor,
tenor, baritone and bass. Formed at Oxford University in 2007, they specialise
in music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras and they perform, as here, under
the direction of counter-tenor, Rory McCleery. This, I believe, is their recording
debut and it’s an auspicious one.
The programme is shrewdly chosen and in his excellent booklet note Bruno Turner
brings out the connections between several of the featured composers without
labouring the point. It will be noted that the sections of the Ordinary of
the Mass run through the programme but, intriguingly, Rory McCleery has devised
a composite approach, bringing in movements from three separate Mass settings.
Further interest is provided by the decision to juxtapose some of the Mass
movements with the motets which inspired the composition of the Masses. So,
for example, Lobo’s Mass setting is based on Guerrero’s motet Maria Magdalene.
Throughout the whole programme the singing of the Marian Consort is very precise
and controlled and the ensemble is well balanced. One is left in no doubt
that here is a group of singers who are used to working with each other and
who blend their voices and their musical natures together as by instinct.
There is a great deal to admire in the precision of their tuning and the purity
of tone. I must admit that my own preference is for the greater tonal richness
that a slightly larger consort – perhaps two to a part – can provide in this
music. However, I still gained a great deal of pleasure from listening to
this flawlessly executed programme.
I’ve already referred to Guerrero’s Maria Magdalene. This is an Easter
piece, a very fine composition, and it’s performed here with splendid conviction.
I don’t recall hearing previously O Virgo Benedicta by Ceballos but
it’s an impressive piece, sung here with a dignified fervour that matches
the music itself. Lobo’s Ave Regina caelorum is another impressive
offering. The performance is characterised by control and poise but McCleery
and his colleagues aren’t afraid to invest the music with vibrancy and they’re
right to do so.
The last two pieces on the programme present a nice contrast. Guerrero’s Pastores
loquebantur is a joyful Christmas piece, which is delivered with conviction
and vitality; the closing Alleluias have a delightful exuberance. After this
the Agnus Dei from the same composer’s Missa Sancta et immaculata offers
a pleasingly reflective close.
The recording presents the singers quite close up but Paul Baxter’s engineering
achieves what I’d call an intimate clarity. As I said, this is a most auspicious
disc. Great care has gone into the planning and execution of this disc and
it should give great pleasure.
John Quinn
An auspicious debut disc from a fine British vocal consort.