Customer Reviews

Gombert: Missa Tempore paschali; Magnificat octavi toni

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We tend to think of Renaissance composers as purveyors of smooth, consonant, somewhat soporific music. Well... It turns out not to be the case. Modern editors edit out the crashing dissonances found in much Renaissance music under the guise of "musica ficta," allowing cross-relations only at cadences.

Now comes this ear-opening recording which presents Gombert's music as he wrote it, jarring dissonances and all. Listen to the 12-part Agnus Dei on this recording. Sublimely dissonant, cross-relations abound.

Don't miss this recording or its companion collection of Gombert's motets.

I was especially pleased to see this recording come up as the third out of 68 different items when I queried the composer, Nicolas Gombert, as it means the recording will be easier to find when you are searching the composers works. While the notes say Gombert wrote eight masses, and this one may be an 'early' work, I think this removes not one wit of interest and enjoyment one achieves while listening to the work. It is the perfect blend of old church reverence and new-fangled polyphony. While I'm a bit of a novice at musical appreciation, I listen to lots and lots of old masses, and this one is a super addition to anyone's collection, even more so because it was done for Easter.