La Rue: Missa De Feria & Missa Sancta Dei genitrix

Pierre de la Rue is one of the "Josquin generation" finally beginning to emerge from the shadows of that latter giant of Renaissance music, and this outstanding disc from Gothic Voices can only serve to accelerate that process. Normally specialising in late medieval and early Renaissance music, this represents something of a leap into the future for Christopher Page's vocal ensemble, but they prove that they can handle the complex polyphony of the High Renaissance with the same finesse and deliver equally impressive results.The "Missa De Feria", from its name, must have been for use on weekdays when there was no specific feast day for a saint - furthermore in its melodies it makes use of plainchant assigned for such "ferial days". This five part mass is anything but a workaday composition however, and with Gothic Voices' one singer per part we get a beautifully distinct and clear experience.The "Missa Sancta Dei genetrix" is a more "standard" four part composition, but again is far from a standard piece from this prolific composer. Alongside the masses is one of La Rue's finest motets, the six part "Pater de celis Deus", and the disc is completed with three instrumental pieces, lute intabulations of other La Rue motets.This disc I would place within the highest rank of Renaissance recordings, which is high praise given the number of top class ensembles we are lucky to have producing so many fine offerings from so many magnificent composers.Some brief notes are provided in English, French & German, plus Latin sung texts with English translation.

Recordings of this composer are relatively few and far between. A real pity judged on the evidence of this wonderful CD. The balance is excellent short pieces for lute interspersed between the masses and the lovely six voice motet Pater de celis Deus. The use of imitation and canons is masterful throughout. it is easy to see why de la Rue was so highly regarded in his lifetime.The second mass Missa Sancta Dei genetrix is my particular favourite - intimate, glowing, beautifully sonorous.The singing is excellent especially considering their speciality is medieval music.At this budget price an excellent purchase.

This is a very welcome re-release of a terrific recording from the late 90s. Pierre de la Rue was a younger contemporary of Josquin who composed a large amount of first-rate music which is deservedly beginning to be more widely recorded, and this is a wonderful contribution to his discography.The two masses presented here are set for five and four voices respectively and show de la Rue's mastery of line and his individual use of dissonance and lower pitches. They are both very beautiful in their different ways - Christopher Page calls the Missa Sancta Dei genitrix "radiant" which is an excellent description. There is also a lovely five-voice setting of Pater de celis Deus and three lute intabulations played by the excellent Christopher Wilson and Shirley Rumsey. It is a wonderful, varied programme which holds your interest from the first note of the disc to the last.Gothic Voices normally sing older music than this, being Mediaeval rather than Renaissance specialists, but they do a fabulous job here. Technically they are impeccable (as one would expect from five such excellent singers), they show a real engagement with the texts and their style fits very well with de la Rue's sometimes sparely beautiful sound. The recording quality is excellent, Christopher Page's notes are very informative and the presentation is attractive. All round, this is a fantastic disc and very warmly recommended.(You may be interested in two other out-of-the way but excellent recordings of de la Rue's music by Amarcord  Incessament  and Henry's Eight  La Rue: Missa Cum Iocunditate, Motets  - both also highly recommended.)

This is a very welcome re-release of a terrific recording from the late 90s. Pierre de la Rue was a younger contemporary of Josquin who composed a large amount of first-rate music which is deservedly beginning to be more widely recorded, and this is a wonderful contribution to his discography.The two masses presented here are set for five and four voices respectively and show de la Rue's mastery of line and his individual use of dissonance and lower pitches. They are both very beautiful in their different ways - Christopher Page calls the Missa Sancta Dei genitrix "radiant" which is an excellent description. There is also a lovely five-voice setting of Pater de celis Deus and three lute intabulations played by the excellent Christopher Wilson and Shirley Rumsey. It is a wonderful, varied programme which holds your interest from the first note of the disc to the last.Gothic Voices normally sing older music than this, being Mediaeval rather than Renaissance specialists, but they do a fabulous job here. Technically they are impeccable (as one would expect from five such excellent singers), they show a real engagement with the texts and their style fits very well with de la Rue's sometimes sparely beautiful sound. The recording quality is excellent, Christopher Page's notes are very informative and the presentation is attractive. All round, this is a fantastic disc and very warmly recommended.(You may be interested in two other out-of-the way but excellent recordings of de la Rue's music by Amarcord  Incessament  and Henry's Eight  La Rue: Missa Cum Iocunditate, Motets  - both also highly recommended.)