Customer Reviews

Canadian Brass: Gabrieli/Monteverdi Antiphonal Music

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this recording because I am a devotee of the Canadian Brass - having studied with the CB of old many years ago at the Banff School of Fine Arts (Alberta). I will admit that when I bought it, I was tremendously concerned about the stylistic matching of the players from the two orchestras compared to the CB. Happily, I have found the sytles to match and blend well, and therefore I was able to enjoy the CD for the overall musical impressions of the fine performances - and without the distractions of hearing disparate and inconsistent styles.

I have subbed in the Vancouver Symphony brass section (albeit years ago) and I know that Akiyama likes loud brass playing. (Akiyama was the music driector with the VSO for many years.) On this CD he certainly brings out some excellent sounds from the virtuoso performers. The style of playing is probably too heavy and powerful - with the FFs being positively massive - given that this is 16th century music. On the other hand, maybe the players of that era would have played out with bigger sounds if they weren't restricted by the instruments used back then.

The highlights of the CD to me are the Monteverdi pieces, especially the first 5 tracks. They are glorious and mesmerizing. Fantastic playing. (Neil Balm was also a student at Banff with me and he sounds as good as the rest of the fine trumpet players. Way to go, Neil!!!) The Gabrieli pieces are executed very well, but perhaps my ears have just heard too much of them. Another favorite album of mine is the London Brass "Gabrieli in Venice" (I did an Amazon review for that one, too) and I prefer the lighter reverb on that CD compared to this one. Plus, I still think that some of the Gabrieli pieces are so over-recored and overplayed that they actually prove to be detrimental to the overall impact of the album.

Don't get the wrong impression, though: this is a very fine CD. The performances are stellar, especially (again) the first 5 tracks. WOW! What a great sound! It is a wonderful depiction of what antiphonal brass choir playing should be. You'll be captivated.

There are many different types of brass music available. This collection of works by Giovanni Gabrieli and Claudio Monteverdi represent the highest calling of an art form, the ultimate expression of music. Since I am a brass player, the players listed from the other orchestra brass sections is a who's who of world class brass musicians: Phillip Smith , Principal Trumpet NYP, Charles Schleuter, Principal Trumpet BSO, Charles Kavalovski, Principal French Horn, BSO, and so on and so on. I personally think the Canadian Brass are excellent classically-trained musicians who have overdone their popular mass appeal formula just too many times, worn into the orchestra tour circuit like an obnoxious, catchy popular music tune. If they desire to, they have the ability to produce some of the best serious brass music available, as clean and pure as the best of the top orchestra's brass elite, as this CD demonstrates. The Vespers of the Blessed Virgin represents some of the finest brass playing and arranging known, with colors and balances fresh with new meaning everytime I hear them. This CD is the favorite CD in my entire collection, and I very much recommend this CD as a fine collection to any library. Although copyrighted 1989, this CBS Masterworks recording is truly "timeless" in its appeal.

If you have any doubts about this album, listen to the sample from Monteverdi's "Vespers of the Blessed Virgin: Deus in Adjutorium." The opening is, of course, meditative; the next 15 seconds are revelatory. It is the perfect album to play on a bright Christmas morning or a gray afternoon.

It may seem sacrilegious to classical music listeners, but I love to hear the Monteverdi selections played loud!

If you will scroll up and take a peek at the image of the album cover you will see a nice, pretty ribbon and seal strung across the top right corner of this album. This is the CBS Masterworks "Seal of Approval," so to speak. This is Sony Classical's way of saying "Buy this album- we think it's really special." When I see that seal I immediatley buy the album, whether it be a Mozart or a Gabrieli. I have always, always been pleased with their recommendations and this album is no exception.

I'm not an expert on this type of music -- I was looking for a good holiday brass CD that contained something other than the 'greatest hits' lineup of holiday music [O Come, All Ye Faithful, etc]. This CD fit the bill perfectly. There's a nice variety to the pieces: triumphant, booming pieces mixed with quieter, thoughtful ones. And the recording is clear as a bell. A CD which was in heavy rotation throughout December.