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Reviewer: Edward Breen Jacob Obrecht (1457/58-1505) is still not as well represented on disc as one might hope, despite having (briefly) succeeded Josquin Desprez in Ferrara and having written over 30 cyclic Masses. This excellent premiere recording of Missa Grecorum is a very welcome addition to his discography and also includes the first recording of the motet O beate Basili. The Brabant Ensemble open with Obrecht’s most famous motet, the six-voice Salve regina, which listeners may know from the superb 1995 recording by the Oxford Camerata under Jeremy Summerly (Naxos). This new recording by Stephen Rice and The Brabant Ensemble is not dissimilar to Summerly’s reading but offers a more sinewed vocal texture. In particular, Rice’s slightly brisker tempos offer more buoyancy; and coupled with the agility of his ensemble and his harmonically scrumptious edition (just listen out for the juicy false relations on ‘lacrimarum valle’ – ‘vale of tears’), it makes for a mouthwatering performance. Missa Grecorum offers us Obrecht in his more common, dense polyphonic mode. Thick, rich textures weaving like garlands around the sustained cantus firmus suit this ensemble well and their bright, young voices make a delight of the glorious long sonorous notes of the ‘Grecorum’ melody in the opening passages of the Gloria. They also rise to Obrecht’s surges of excitement, particularly at the repetitions of ‘Jesu Christe’ and the characteristic triple rhythm for ‘Cum Sancto Spirito’ right at end of the Gloria. As Obrecht hits his stride, so these singers really make the music flow. Perhaps the biggest surprise of this disc, though, is the nimble and charming setting of Mater Patris/Sancta Dei genitrix. The tuning takes a moment to settle, but soon the motet unfolds ravishing chains of tumbling phrases on ‘Aures tuae pietatis ad nos vertens a peccatis’ (‘Turning your merciful ears to us, release us from sin’). Obrecht’s music and these performances are ravishingly beautiful and form a well-matched pair. |
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