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Track(s) taken from SIGCD045

Ecce quam bonum

composer
author of text
Psalm 132 (133)

The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice (conductor)
Recording details: April 2003
Merton College Chapel, Oxford, United Kingdom
Produced by Jeremy Summerly
Engineered by Justin Lowe
Release date: September 2004
Total duration: 6 minutes 34 seconds

Cover artwork: The Marriage of the Virgin (detail of the suitors) (1500-1504) by Pietro Perugino (c1445-1523)
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Caen / Bridgeman Images
 

Reviews

'The individual movements of the Mass are nicely contrasted with, for example, robust duetting in the ‘Et resurrexit’, and a touchingly reflective Agnus Dei. The motets, too, have moments to cherish (‘Accesserunt’ brings out the best in the singers)' (BBC Music Magazine)
RECORDING
PERFORMANCE

'Clemens’s beautifully crafted and mellifluous polyphony, nicely spiced with tellingly placed chromaticisms, is immediately appealing. The Brabant Ensemble generally does it full justice, with its clear, steady tone: the bell-like soprano sound is particularly attractive. The group also gives the music a natural sense of flow, especially in slow and expressive items such as the desolate motet Job tonso capite … a most promising debut album, suggesting the the Brabant Ensemble could have a bright future—especially if, in its enterprising choice of repertoire, it is starting as it means to go on' (The Daily Telegraph)

'They make a glorious sound which may be very English, for want of a better word, but which I found irresistible—Clemens’s mellifluous lines rise and fall beautifully, no one part taking precedence over the others, and all with an ethereal feeling … if you are unfamiliar with this repertoire, do buy this; it will change your life. Those of you who are, don't miss this wonderful debut recording' (Early Music Review)
The motet sets Psalm 133, ‘Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is: brethren, to dwell together in unity!’ In it the psalmist constructs an extended simile between the life of a happy community and refreshing liquids: first the precious ointment running down Aaron’s beard, and subsequently dew falling upon the hill of Sion. The mention of Sion allows a return to the original theme of God’s benediction on those who lead a peaceful life. The imagery in this short but vivid text offers plenty of scope for the composer to create musical parallels, of which Clemens takes advantage.

from notes by Stephen Rice © 2004

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