Capriccio Pastorale (Italian Christmas Music)

Description

This new album with Italian Christmas music contrasts the different musical styles and sound worlds of the Renaissance. In a world premiere recording, one hears the fantastic mass "Missa de Sancta Maria" written by the Dutch composer Heinrich Isaac (1450-1517). Isaac's mass is accompanied by other polyphonic music that he may have known or influenced during his long stays in royal courts in Italy, such as "Angelica biltà" by the composer and multi-instrumentalist Francesco Landini. These pieces are contrasted and complemented by sacred pieces for the feast of Christmas, such as world premiere recordings of hymns "Hor non nascescias" or "Danza dei pastori". With this deliberate contrast of secular and sacred music as well as instrumental and vocal music, Capella de la Torre under Katharina Bäuml brings to life the joyful Christmas soundscape of Italy around 1500.