Overview

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, hailed through the centuries as ""prince and father of music,"" wrote music of unsurpassed grace and beauty. Issued at the 400th anniversary of the master's death, this album contains the only existing recording of his Missa Descendit Angelus Domini and the Missa Beatae Mariae Virginis II, and six other motets.

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9781557252401

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""The trick to mastering counterpoint lies in mastering it completely...herein lies the glory of this magnificent, essential release. The balance of seriousness with humanity comes through as much as the balanced voices...Patterson clearly has genius in selecting just the right tempos and dynamics...serious, winning, and convincing. If we have ever had a finer Palestrina recording available, I've not heard it."" In Tune Magazine ""They [Gloriae Dei Cantores]have demonstrated a polished musicality, combined with a versatile command of a wide-ranging repertoire of literature and styles...the richness and sonority is almost hypnotically beautiful. Palestrina was, after all, one of the great composers of music for grouped human voices, and there is no reason why we should not enjoy such luscious, expansive (yet stylistically sensitive) realizations of his music. Good notes; full texts and English translations. Alike to the Palestrina collector or the lover of wonderful choral sound, this release is warmly recommended."" American Record Guide ""...this group deserves all the praise it gets for its recordings and international concert tours. It's a remarkable achievement. Recommended."" Fanfare ""Imagine you are in one of the oldest and most beautiful cathedrals in Italy. Close your eyes and hear a Palestrina mass being sung. The counterpoint is balanced and serene; the sound is clear, each vocal line distinctly heard. Such is the impression left by the excellent sound reproduction for the group Gloriae Dei Cantores, conducted by Elizabeth Patterson....a fine, well-trained vocal sound. The purity of vowels combined with the tone of the voices provide a lovely effect. For that alone it is worth listening to this disc."" Choral Journal ""...there is a depth of emotion these singers bring to their work that goes beyond mere professional performance practice. The freshness and immediacy here breathes life back into the veins of history. Truly beautiful singing."" Harmonia Early Music Newsletter 

The trick to mastering counterpoint lies in mastering it completely...herein lies the glory of this magnificent, essential release. The balance of seriousness with humanity comes through as much as the balanced voices...Patterson clearly has genius in selecting just the right tempos and dynamics...serious, winning, and convincing. If we have ever had a finer Palestrina recording available, I've not heard it. In Tune Magazine They [Gloriae Dei Cantores]have demonstrated a polished musicality, combined with a versatile command of a wide-ranging repertoire of literature and styles...the richness and sonority is almost hypnotically beautiful. Palestrina was, after all, one of the great composers of music for grouped human voices, and there is no reason why we should not enjoy such luscious, expansive (yet stylistically sensitive) realizations of his music. Good notes; full texts and English translations. Alike to the Palestrina collector or the lover of wonderful choral sound, this release is warmly recommended. American Record Guide ...this group deserves all the praise it gets for its recordings and international concert tours. It's a remarkable achievement. Recommended. Fanfare Imagine you are in one of the oldest and most beautiful cathedrals in Italy. Close your eyes and hear a Palestrina mass being sung. The counterpoint is balanced and serene; the sound is clear, each vocal line distinctly heard. Such is the impression left by the excellent sound reproduction for the group Gloriae Dei Cantores, conducted by Elizabeth Patterson....a fine, well-trained vocal sound. The purity of vowels combined with the tone of the voices provide a lovely effect. For that alone it is worth listening to this disc. Choral Journal ...there is a depth of emotion these singers bring to their work that goes beyond mere professional performance practice. The freshness and immediacy here breathes life back into the veins of history. Truly beautiful singing. Harmonia Early Music Newsletter

...there is a depth of emotion these singers bring to their work that goes beyond mere professional performance practice. The freshness and immediacy here breathes life back into the veins of history. Truly beautiful singing. Harmonia Early Music Newsletter Imagine you are in one of the oldest and most beautiful cathedrals in Italy. Close your eyes and hear a Palestrina mass being sung. The counterpoint is balanced and serene; the sound is clear, each vocal line distinctly heard. Such is the impression left by the excellent sound reproduction for the group Gloriae Dei Cantores, conducted by Elizabeth Patterson....a fine, well-trained vocal sound. The purity of vowels combined with the tone of the voices provide a lovely effect. For that alone it is worth listening to this disc. Choral Journal ...this group deserves all the praise it gets for its recordings and international concert tours. It's a remarkable achievement. Recommended. Fanfare They [Gloriae Dei Cantores]have demonstrated a polished musicality, combined with a versatile command of a wide-ranging repertoire of literature and styles...the richness and sonority is almost hypnotically beautiful. Palestrina was, after all, one of the great composers of music for grouped human voices, and there is no reason why we should not enjoy such luscious, expansive (yet stylistically sensitive) realizations of his music. Good notes; full texts and English translations. Alike to the Palestrina collector or the lover of wonderful choral sound, this release is warmly recommended. American Record Guide The trick to mastering counterpoint lies in mastering it completely...herein lies the glory of this magnificent, essential release. The balance of seriousness with humanity comes through as much as the balanced voices...Patterson clearly has genius in selecting just the right tempos and dynamics...serious, winning, and convincing. If we have ever had a finer Palestrina recording available, I've not heard it. In Tune Magazine

Author Information

Gloriæ Dei Cantores (Singers to the Glory of God) holds a passionate dedication to illuminate truth and beauty through choral artistry, celebrating a rich tradition of sacred choral music from Gregorian chant through the twenty-first century. Currently under the direction of Richard K. Pugsley, Gloriæ Dei Cantores has received critical acclaim for its artistic elegance, performance authenticity, and compelling spirituality. Sharing its vision of inspiration and hope, the choir has toured extensively, touching the hearts of audiences in twenty-four countries in Europe, Asia, and N. America. Its discography of over fifty recordings is distributed internationally through Paraclete Recordings, a division of Paraclete Press, Inc., and NAXOS, Inc. The choir makes its home in Orleans, MA.  www.gdcchoir.org

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