Maria / Œuvres vocales sacrées

Description

Although Josquin des Prez - the great master among Renaissance composers - never traveled to Leipzig himself, his music found its way to the flourishing city of the imperial fair as early as the beginning of the 16th century. There, at the crossroads of important trade routes, where merchants sold furs, wine and other treasures, the latest musical masterpieces from Italy were also traded. Two Leipzig manuscripts still preserve this cultural treasure today: the Codex Apel, compiled by the scholar Nicolas Apel around 1500, and the important collective manuscript Ms. Thomaskirche 49/50 from the university library, which brought together the most remarkable compositions of its time in 1558. From these Leipzig manuscripts, amarcord creates the fascinating image of a “Josquin of Leipzig” with its undeniably pure sound. At the center is the Missa de Beata Virgine, a work full of beauty and deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. Here Josquin demonstrates his extraordinary mastery in alternating movements for four and five voices and unfolds impressive musical dramaturgy. But this album is more than a Mass of the Virgin Mary - it is a sonic journey through time. Sacred motets based on Josquin songs are cleverly interwoven with the movements of the Mass, while medieval sequences from the Gradual of St. Thomas in Leipzig deepen Marian devotion in a touching way. The recording in the historic St. Thomas Church gives the music a special atmosphere and brings the centuries-old tradition of church music to life. With dedication, precision and a unique sense of the Renaissance, amarcord, all former members of the St. Thomas Boys Choir, breathe new life into this sonic world. An listening experience that touches heart and soul and includes eight world premiere recordings among the 16 tracks on the CD.