Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Baroque Easter Joy!


Rigati

Lully
Graziani

10 comments:

pelerin said...

Have only just searched for and written down the words for the Regina Caeli as I am ashamed I did not know them. The films of the singing will now help to commit the words to memory.

Always knew and loved the Salve Regina but I think this year was the first time I had heard the Regina Caeli and also only just found out that the singing of each depends on the liturgical season.

Dorothy B said...

Thank you so much - a joy to listen to.

The Bones said...

Will practise these pieces on a 12-sting.

"Dring...Hang on is that a B minor?...Dring..."

Fr Seán Coyle said...

I'll give you two out of three for this, Father Ray. I can't take countertenors seriously, though this is no reflection on the talent of the young singer in the first video.

Happy Easter and thank you!

johnf said...

Father
I am a big fan of Monteverdi but thanks for introducing me to a composer I had never heard of - Giovanni Antonio Rigatti.

Countertenors - great!!
Alfred Deller, James Bowman, and others and now this young man Phillippe Jaroussky

Here are some schoolchildren singing the Regina Coeli - St John Cantius Church in Chicago. The chant has a special charm of its own.

fortissimo said...

I greatly admire Philippe Jaroussky, like Alfred Deller many years ago he has more "oomph" than most and such a thrilling vocal range. But each Easter I bring out my recording of Mozart's setting of Regina Caeli,K127, that, for me, captures the spirit of Easter perfectly. I just wish our Choir could get beyond the setting by Aichinger. Thanks for your wonderful posts, high places in a world of philistines, Father!

fortissimo said...

Mental lapse! It's Mozart's setting K108 which sends the shivers down my spine - especially when Emma Kirkby is soloist! The other settings are fine, but it's that one which makes my Easter!

Zephyrinus said...

Dear "Pelerin". Just in case you didn't know, there are FOUR Marian Anthems. They are used at different times of the Liturgical Season, as you correctly mentioned. [All the following I quote from The St. Andrew Daily Missal.] The first Anthem is the "ALMA REDEMPTORIS", used from First Vespers in Advent to the Second Vespers of February 2, inclusive. The authorship of this hymn is attributed to Hermann Contractus, a monk of the Abbey of Reichenau (+1054). This Anthem has both a Solemn Tone and a Simple Tone. The second Anthem is the "AVE REGINA", used from Compline on February 2 until Maundy Thursday, exclusive. The authorship is, again, attributed to Hermann Contractus (+1054). The insertion of this hymn in the Office of the Church is attributed to Pope Clement VI (1342-1352). Again, it has both a Solemn Tone and a Simple Tone. The third Anthem is the "REGINA CAELI", used from Compline on Holy Saturday until Trinity Sunday, exclusive. Attributed to Pope Gregory V (+998). Again, it has both a Solemn Tone and a Simple Tone. The fourth Anthem is the "SALVE REGINA", used from the First Vespers of Trinity Sunday until Advent. This hymn is attributed to Adhemar de Monteil, Bishop of Le Puy (+1098). The three final invocations of this Anthem were added by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153). Again, it has both a Solemn Tone and a Simple Tone. For those people who have never listened to these Anthems, I, respectfully, suggest you do.

JARay said...

With the plethora of countertenors these days I suppose that I'm getting used to them. I watched a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion on EWTN on Passion/Palm Sunday and the Alto was a countertenor. The soprano was Emma Kirkby whose voice I really love. My mind went back to Kathleen Ferrier when Erbame Dich, mein Gott, was sung and I loved her singing of that. I have a 1950 recording (not the best) with her as soloist then. Those not too familiar with Bach's St. Matthew Passion may perhaps know that this particular aria has a beautiful haunting violin solo throughout. For me, the countertenor cannot come near the warmth of someone like Kathleen Ferrier. Their voices are stronger, I find, but lacking in warmth.
JARay

pelerin said...

Thank you Zephyrinus for that info. I had no idea there were four Marian anthems and never knew that the Salve Regina was attributed to a Bishop of Le Puy.

I will indeed search further.

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