Transeamus

First - I adore the Hilliard Ensemble. I can not think of a more gifted vocal ensemble. Therefore, I was so disappointed to hear that they were going to disband and that this would be their final album. I gave it 4 stars - not because of any flaws in their vocals or for the recording itself - but rather because the pieces selected just didn't seem to be worthy selections for their ultimate offering. I listened to it twice - then went back to listening to their albums "Morimur" and the two "Officium" albums.

beautiful. Beautiful.

After 40 years the Hilliard Ensemble have decided to call it a day and make this their last recording. Why they felt the need to do this when the ensemble has been a bit of a Ship of Theseus/Locke's Sock/Trigger's Broom anyway I do not know, but there we have it, all good things must come to an end. I confess to not holding the Hilliards amongst my absolute favourite ensembles when it comes to medieval and Renaissance music performance, and I didn't feel the immediate need to purchase this recording when it was first released, but my mind was changed by a chance switching on the car radio to Radio 3 and hearing the Hilliards perform one of the tracks from this album live in the studio.The album of English motets and carols, for between two and four parts, mostly anonymous but with compositions from John Plummer, Walter Lambe, William Cornysh and the mysterious "Sheryngham" whose first name is not known, is delicately performed in the distinctive Hilliard style. As usual with the Hilliards, the booklet is somewhat minimalist (one page of not very informative notes from the ensemble's countertenor David James); sung texts with translations for the Latin pieces are given.

Excellent

Founded in 1974, the Hilliard Ensemble have decided that after 40 years this will be their final season. They are marking it with this final release: 'Transeamus: English Carols and Motets', a collection of polyphony in two, three and four parts, from the 15th century. The album's title comes from a Latin Christmas song, 'Transeamus usque Bethlehem', translated as 'Let us go to Bethlehem'. Included are works by John Plummer, Walter Lambe and William Cornysh. Other works are by composers whose names have been lost over time, but their music has survived.The ensemble are: David James, (countertenor), Roger Covey-Crump and Steven Harrold (tenors) with Gordon Jones, (baritone). The recording was made in the chapel at St. Gerold in Austria where most of their ECM albums have been recorded. The intimacy of their surroundings is captured in the performance of the ensemble. The melodies and harmonies are pure and sung a cappella without distraction from thick orchestral layers, sounding clear and distinctive with faultless intonation. The effects are mesmeric and beautiful. Plummer's 'Anna Mater' and 'O pulcherrima mulierum' are exquisite. Ancient sacred carols are sung in Latin with three in English, ending with 'Ah gentle Jesu', a powerful and compelling piece, by Sheryngham. A wonderful and fitting farewell album to a memorable Ensemble. It is full of beauty and warmth and likewise warmly recommended. Lyrics and translations are enclosed in a booklet with a short note from David James.

Che dire ? Loro sono praticamente perfetti. Musica antica di eccelsa qualità ed esecuzione ineccepibile. Il titolo però evoca il Natale, e qui manca un po’ di calore natalizio. Musica quindi per un raffinatissimo Avvento ma forse po’ troppo algido e misurato.

The quality of this music is superb, but it is let down by the inferiority of the manufacture. This is manufactured and marketed by universal music classics, which should universal shoddy materials to cut costs. I opened the disk and played, I opened the case to return the disk, and flop it fell on the floor breaking one of the tags hinging the two cases together. This is not the first time I have noticed the inferior, thinner, quality of the plastics used with the US manufacture of ECM disks. Cheap and nasty manufacture.