The four hundredth anniversary of the death of the Spanish composer
Tomás Luis de Victoria fell in 2011. He was undoubtedly one
of Europe’s great Renaissance composers. Universally admired
for his masses and motets Victoria devoted himself exclusively to
sacred music in Latin. That said, he was far from prolific, leaving
only a modest body of works. Born in the province of Ávila,
Castile around 1548, Victoria later trained in Rome where, it is thought
that, he may have studied with Palestrina.
This CD is a Christmastide project brought to fruition by Valencia
born musician Carles Magraner. Magraner, with unerring assurance,
directs Capella de Ministrers the Valencian early music group that
he founded in 1987. The disc is released by Capella de Ministrers
on their own label. The ensemble comprises six mixed vocalists and
six instrumentalists who double as additional voices. Magraner follows
the Spanish practice of the period by using minstrels who were connected
to a church both playing instruments and also singing during liturgical
services. For those used to hearing Victoria’s music sung by
unaccompanied choir it may seem strange at first to hear instrumental
accompaniment. Magraner here has bolstered his vocal forces by using
L'Almodi Cor de Cambra, the twelve strong Valencian early music chamber
choir.
There are fourteen tracks and the consistently elevated level of performance
ensures a satisfying experience. I especially admire the Marian antiphon
Alma Redemptoris Mater (
Loving Mother of our Redeemer)
for eight voices intended for the season of Advent. Its Italianate
polychoralism has a wonderful sacred power: a fervent wall of exultant
sound. The concise hymn for the feast of Epiphany
Magi viderunt
stellam (
The Magi beheld the star) for four voices is a
miniature gem with an inspiring blend of voices. A short motet
Ne
timeas Maria (
Fear not Mary) makes a remarkable reverential
impression although it only uses a single counter-tenor voice accompanied
by a chamber organ. Splendidly sung
Ecce,
Dominus Veniet
(
Behold,
the Lord cometh) for five voices accompanied
by dulcian (an early type of bassoon) and organ is appealingly ethereal.
The Christmas motet
Quem vidistis, pastores? (
Whom did you
see Shepherds?) scored for six voices and instruments in two parts
resonates with joyfulness for the birth of Jesus. Here the booklet
notes remark on “
the cascade effect of the different voices”.
One of Victoria’s finest and best known works
O magnum mysterium
(
O great mystery) for four voices is performed here with choir
and instruments. The first section is purely instrumental and opens
with striking brass playing. At point 3:14 (track 11) the choir enters
to the accompaniment of a chamber organ. An outstanding work
Gaude,
Maria Virgo (
Rejoice,
Virgin Mary) for five voices
is unusual in Victoria’s canon. It’s one of only three
motets that he wrote exclusively for high voices. In this version
Magraner has positioned his soprano at the front of the transept with
his split soprano choirs at either side and a cornet at the rear.
It produces a remarkable effect. The final work,
Ave Maria
(
Hail Mary) for eight voices is luxuriant and beautifully sung.
It is written in an antiphonic style that alternates homophonic and
polyphonic passages between the choirs.
I was delighted by the tonal blend of this beautifully reverential
singing. The instrumental accompaniment convincingly underpins the
vocal line providing an additional dash of colour. The close sound
is impressively clear.
Everything is attractively packaged with the CD housed inside a glossy
hardback book (192mm x 150mm) containing full Latin texts, English
translations and several splendid images of artwork from Victoria’s
time. A sheer delight from start to finish: gloriously performed and
recorded.
Michael Cookson
Track Listing
Ave Maria (Atribuido) a 4 voces [2:43]
O Regem caeli, In Festo Natalis Domini. Paribus vocis - a 4 voces
[5:38]
Congratulamini mihi, De Beata Virgini - a 6 voces [3:44]
Alma redemptoris mater, a 8 voces [5:56]
Quam pulchri sunt, In Conceptione Beatae Mariae - a 4 voces [3:44]
Magi viderunt stellam, In Epiphania Domini - a 4 voces [3:31]
Ne timeas Maria, In Annuntiatione Beatae Mariae [3:28]
Ecce Dominus Veniet, In Adventu Domini - a 5 voces [4:59]
Quem vidistis, pastores? In festo Nativitatis Domini - a 6 voces [6:09]
Hostis Herodes impie, De Epiphania - a 4 voces [4:21]
O magnum mysterium, In Die Circumcisionis Domini - a 4 voces [6:43]
Gaude Maria Virgo, De Beata Virgini - a 5 voces [4:26]
Ave Maria, a 8 voces [4:44]
