Immerse yourself in the sacred and serene world of Renaissance polyphony with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's "Missa Ad coenam Agni & Eastertide Motets." This exquisite collection, released in 2013, features the renowned composer's masterful Missa Ad coenam Agni, drawn from his first book of Mass settings published in 1554, alongside a selection of enchanting Eastertide motets and offertories. The album, recorded in the acoustically rich Church of St Michael and All Angels in Oxford, showcases the Brabant Ensemble under the direction of Stephen Rice, delivering a performance of unparalleled beauty and precision.
The album opens with the Missa Ad coenam Agni, a work that transcends mere compositional technique, offering graceful vocal lines and lush harmonies that resonate with expressive power. Following the Mass, the collection delves into a variety of Eastertide pieces, including antiphons, motets, and offertories, each demonstrating Palestrina's unmatched ability to blend voices in a tapestry of sound that is both intricate and uplifting.
With a duration of just over an hour, this album is a testament to Palestrina's enduring legacy and the Brabant Ensemble's commitment to bringing historical music to life. Recorded and produced with meticulous attention to detail, this release is a treasure for both seasoned enthusiasts of choral music and those new to the enchanting world of Renaissance polyphony.
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