Customer Reviews

In Hydraulis

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

 

 

Without hesitation, I recommend this recording to any person interested in exploring the hauntingly beautiful world of Busnoys' music.

Indeed, I have made a point to acquire each and every recording by Pomerium. I know of no finer ensemble that records this repertoire. From Du Fay to Monteverdi, Josquin to Gesualdo, Pomerium is simply the best. And this lovely collection of the music of Busnoys is no exception.

The negative review by the gentleman from Sydney would be warranted for many of Pomerium's CDs. The group often sounds "choral" and careful. This, however, is a vigorous, joyful performance of music by one of the greatest and sadly least-recorded early European composers. I've had the CD for a long time, long enough so that it has risen to the top of my play-again pile. In fact, I played it again and enjoyed it very much. The only recording of Busnois that I think is better is the Orlando Consort's "O Crux Lignum".

This is wonderful music, virtually unrecorded apart from "In Hydraulis" itself (by the Clerks Group). Unfortunately slow tempi rob the music of its rhythmic interest, and it all comes out sounding like everything else Pomerium have ever done. There's a superficial gloss of "renaissance" all over it which is boring after 5 minutes. Processed, like American cheese.