Early Music

Masses, requiems, and passions immerse us in a repertoire where spirituality and dramatic emotion unite. From the contemplation of Fauré's Requiem to the majesty of Verdi's Requiem, and the profound depth of Bach's Passions, these works carry exceptional musical and human intensity.

Listening to this music on our systems reveals the richness of the choirs, the orchestral grandeur, and the emotional depth that envelops us, offering a suspended moment where sacred art meets the pure pleasure of listening.

Early Music Vinyl: Medieval and Renaissance Records on LP

Early music on vinyl: what this collection covers

This collection gathers early music vinyl: the repertoire of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, from Gregorian chant and medieval polyphony to masses, motets, chansons, madrigals and music for lute, viols or recorders. The term also describes a way of playing, known as historically informed performance, on period instruments or copies with small ensembles. For the next period, from Monteverdi to Bach, head to the Baroque music collection.

Composers and ensembles to know

A few landmarks among composers: Hildegard von Bingen in the 12th century, Guillaume de Machaut and his Messe de Nostre Dame in the 14th, then Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, Tomás Luis de Victoria and Carlo Gesualdo in the Renaissance, along with Monteverdi's madrigals. This music was written for churches, court chapels and private rooms, so on record the acoustic of the recording venue is part of the sound, and the best engineering captures that natural reverb.

The early music revival largely happened on LP in the 1960s and 1970s. David Munrow and his Early Music Consort of London, Gustav Leonhardt, Nikolaus Harnoncourt with his Concentus Musicus Wien, and Jordi Savall with Hespèrion XX made recordings that became benchmarks. Later came Marcel Pérès's Ensemble Organum, the Tallis Scholars and the Hilliard Ensemble, and today The Gesualdo Six or Christina Pluhar's L'Arpeggiata. Soprano Emma Kirkby shaped generations of recordings.

Labels and pressings: buying tips

Much of the early music catalog on vinyl is found used: recordings from the 1960s to the 1980s issued by Archiv Produktion, Harmonia Mundi, L'Oiseau-Lyre, Telefunken's Das Alte Werk series or Erato. These labels generally took care with pressings and liner notes. Newer labels such as Jordi Savall's Alia Vox or Hyperion release mostly on CD.

  • Check condition: a solo voice or lute exposes every click
  • Look for liner notes and sung texts
  • Make sure box sets are complete
  • Compare a period pressing with a later edition

Comparing prices on early music records

Vinyles.com compares offers from several partner stores for the same record, new or used. Early music is often issued in small quantities, so this is a quick way to see which editions are available and at what price. Check the ensemble and director on the listing: in this repertoire, the performance matters as much as the work itself. Two recordings of the same mass can differ completely in forces, tempo and even Latin pronunciation.

Explore Early Music styles