The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (Composer), Dennis Keene (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Dennis Keene
• Composer: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
• Audio CD (May 25, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delos Records
• ASIN: B00000J86H
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,279 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Palestrina Resurrected, July 8, 2001

By 

Jonathan A. Golden (East Lansing, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music (Audio CD)

Folks, I'm a long-time fan of the Ascension Choir, but Palestrina has always been at the top of my list of "Most Overrated Composers of All Time" (along with the 20th-Century's greatest ..., Igor Stravinsky) - until I broke down & bought Dennis Keene's exquisitely prepared "Prince of Music" CD. By restoring the pulse to the music and banishing that ponderous, thick choral sound traditionally associated with it, Keene brings Palestrina's art to life again and makes it sound completely NEW. It's like seeing rays of light suddenly streaming through an old stained-glass window. It's enough to restore one's faith, in the power of art, if nothing else. The choral sound is gorgeously balanced, strangely light and varied, always moving forward, a truly mystical euphony. I'm not an habitual writer of fan letters, but after several weeks of living with these performances, I just had to write this review. Mr. Keene, if by some chance you're reading this, thanks for a rare and wonderful pleasure: true musical grace captured on CD, there whenever my heart & mind long for it...

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful and Inspiring Performance, December 21, 1999

By 

M. Ramos - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music (Audio CD)

This is another great performance by Voices of Ascension, conducted by Dennis Keene. It has to be difficult to give a fresh interpretation to the MISSA PAPAE MARCELLI, a famous work that had been recorded many times, with excellent results. Dennis Keene chooses to use faster tempi, giving a different approach from the traditional solemnity that is typical in the interpretation of this repertoire. This change in tempo works very well, especially in the Gloria and Credo. The album also has other motets and offertories from Palestrina. TU ES PETRUS, DUM COMPLEMENTUR and CANITE TUBA are particularly notable, they sound positively joyful and exultant. The voices has a fresh and integrated sound. And it is a pleasure to have three bonus tracks from previous CDs, specially ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER that is performed with great tenderness. It is obvious that they love the piece very much. The Renaissance repertoire fits the group like a glove. The performances of Voices of Ascension combine technical virtousity with deep interiority.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Inspiring, April 22, 2004

By 

John Ladousier (Merced, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greatest Choral Music of Palestrina: Prince of Music (Audio CD)

The music itself is truly awsome and the lyrics are soo deep. It's not just absolutely great to listen to, but a real trip to meditate on the meaning of the songs. Palestrina had a real reverence for God and his music just creates a sense of awe. Palestrina was a genius at creating varied vocal parts that are each interesting and beautiful to listen to. The different parts (bases, tenors, altos, and sopranos) have their own little melody and each part has its glory moment. Finaly when Palestrina wants to make and important statement he puts the parts into usison to spell out the most musically satisfying chords I've ever heard. And the voices themselves....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! They are absolutely beautiful! Denis Keene is an amazing director; he never lets the beautiful chanting drag to much so that it keeps moving. However, on the slow meditative songs, Keene takes his time and lets the beauty of the voices create this mood of solemnity. Let me give you a sample of the lyrics of track #14. In Latin: "Peccantem me quotidie et non me poenitentem, timor mortis conturbat me, quia in inferno nulla est redemptio. Miserere mei Deus, et salva me." Which translates to: "I have been sinning every day, without repentence. [And Now] the fear of death torments me, because in the underworld there is no redemption. Have mercy on me, Lord, and save me." This music is some of the most powerful music that I have heard as a Christian and really inspires me.