Ex Nihilo - Polyphony Out of the Order of Things

De Ribera, Bernardino, Desprez, Josquin, Obrecht, Jacob, Ockeghem, Johannes, różni kompozytorzy, Wert, Giaches de

Graindelavoix, Schmelzer, Björn

GCD P32119

On their newest recording for Glossa, Graindelavoix and Björn Schmelzer present a fascinating array of Renaissance motets based on the theological concept of 'creatio ex nihilo', creation out of nothing, as exemplified in the mystery of the Incarnation, the idea of God becoming a man. Well-known pieces like Josquin Desprez's 'Praeter rerum seriem' are combined with less famous works by the same composer, and very fine contributions by Obrecht, Ockeghem, Ribera and Wert.

Björn Schmelzer bases his intriguing approach to the performance of these pieces on a 1561 quote by the Flemish Protestant pedagogue Johannes Molanus: "[Mensural polyphony] is a singing without sense or content, in which the voices are resounding emptily in so-called proses, motets, and artificial songs in foreign languages, ornamented for the delectation of the ears, which have no meaning that could be understood even by thes ingers themselves.” And Schmelzer himself adds:“Polyphony owes its existence to the bizarre articulation of a voidn, aarticulation that is itself void ocfo ntent and meaning. [...] In no way polyphony improves intelligibility or contributes to a greater understandnig of the liturgical texts, having in fact theev rerse effect...”

This 19th album of Graindelavoix on Glossa will for sure please the ensemble’s ever‐increasing base of followers, and again constitutes a groundbreaking contribution to intelligent and exciting performance of ancient repertory.

Works:

•Josquin: O admirabile commercium
•Josquin: Praeter rerum seriem
•Obrecht: Salve Regina
•Ockeghem: Alma Redemptoris Mater
•Ribera, B: Vox in Rama

CD x 1

Glossa

1.10.2024

8424562321199