This is an album of antiphonal Renaissance brass music by Claudio Monteverdi and Giovani Gabrieli that I got by mistake...and it was a good mistake! This was sent to me for not returning my monthly card to the Columbia CD club way back in 1990. It has turned out to be one of my all-time favorite albums. Although, not listed as a "Christmas" album, I always play it at the holiday times due to the fact that the Vespers of the Blessed Virgin by Claudio Monteverdi (who is also credited with writing the first true Opera) are true Christmas pieces from the Renaissance era.
The Canadian Brass, the long-standing brass quintet from north of the border, teams up with the principal brass players from both the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra to perform these sensitive and yet powerful pieces written over 500 years ago. Recorded in a cathedral with various placements (the liner notes tell which ensemble can be heard on what channel - left, right, center), the resonance is amazing, and the power of the brass ensemble can be felt here like on no other recording I own, except perhaps some of DCI performances. The skill of the musicians is obvious, and the glory of music truly makes me feel the joy of the Christmas season. You can sample all the tracks from the album at Amazon.com, and my students can check this CD out from my Music Library. I would highly reccomend adding this recording to your library for the holidays or any time of year!
UPDATE: This album is now available on iTunes as well. Click here to go to the iTunes music store.
2 comments:
I have it; I love it.
HI
Great information in this post and I think the skill of the musicians is obvious, and the glory of music truly makes me feel the joy of the Christmas season. You can sample all the tracks from the album at Amazon.com, and my students can check this CD out from my Music Library.
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