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Track(s) taken from CDA67225

Ave maris stella

composer
Alessandro Grandi (1575/80-1630)
1629; Motetti iii, Venice
author of text
Anonymous - liturgical
Hymn at First Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Robin Blaze (countertenor), The Parley of Instruments, Peter Holman (conductor)
Recording details: June 2000
St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Mark Brown
Engineered by Antony Howell & Julian Millard
Release date: March 2001
Total duration: 3 minutes 19 seconds
 

Reviews

‘An excellent release … Robin Blaze’s clear, pure countertenor is the ideal voice for these pieces, and he sings them with impressive authority. Pick of the month’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The intrinsic qualities of this little-explored repertoire and Blaze’s musicianship mark this as an important release’ (American Record Guide)

‘Blaze is at his most impassioned and convincing … this disc will add to our understanding and love of this treasure house’ (International Record Review)

‘It is a rare thing to reach the end of a long program like this wanting more, yet that’s exactly what happened to me in this instance. All readers are urged to investigate a remarkable disc that is assured of being an exceptionally strong contender for the Want List’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Robin Blaze has justifiably moved quickly into the elite of counter-tenors. Not only is he convincing vocally but his interpretative instincts are sound’ (Cathedral Music)

‘I would recommend this disc to anyone with a love for baroque vocal music’ (MusicWeb International)

‘An appealing concert of Venetian sacred music … as always with Hyperion, gorgeous sound’ (Early Music)
Grandi turned the plainsong tune of the hymn Ave maris stella into a catchy triple-time dance – as Monteverdi had done in his 1610 Vespers. Monteverdi set all the verses of the hymn, but Grandi only set the even-numbered verses, apparently expecting the odd-numbered ones to be represented by the string ritornello.

from notes by Peter Holman © 2001

Grandi tourna la mélodie grégorienne de l’hymne Ave maris stella en une danse ternaire toute guillerette – comme Monteverdi auparavant avec ses Vêpres de la Vierge de 1610. Si Monteverdi avait mis en musique tous les versets de l’hymne, Grandi n’exploita que les versets pairs considérant que les impairs seraient représentés par la ritournelle instrumentale.

extrait des notes rédigées par Peter Holman © 2001
Français: Isabelle Battioni

Grandi hat die Choralmelodie der Hymne Ave maris stella in einen ansprechenden Tanz im Dreiertakt verwandelt – wie vor ihm Monteverdi seine 1610 entstandene Vespermusik. Monteverdi hat alle Strophen der Hymne vertont, Grandi nur die geradzahligen, offensichtlich in der Absicht, die ungeradzahligen durch das Streicherritornell darzustellen.

aus dem Begleittext von Peter Holman © 2001
Deutsch: Anne Steeb/Bernd Müller

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