Customer Reviews

Missa: Missa Luba, Misa criolla, Misa flamenca [includes DVD]

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

 

 

The music is great, comes with a DVD of the Missa Luba's origins in Africa (nice touch). The only problem is that whilst the Missa Creola has been produced extremely well it now, it now features Jose Carrera and the producers have 'remodelled' parts of the mass to demonstrate his voice. Unfortunately, in my opinion, neither Mr Carrera's voice nor the remodelling have proved to be adequate foils to the previous issues of this mass.

My much-loved LP was lost in a move a few years ago, and now after much prodding Philips has reissued the original Missa Luba on an absolutely glorious CD -- with a DVD kicker to boot. Thank you, Philips! The sound is spectacular; the purity and enthusiasm of the voices inspiring. The accompanying Misa Criolla (based on South American folk songs) and Misa Flamenca (Andalusian) are added treats. [Not being familiar with Misa Criolla, I can't comment on RJHamilton's review, but I found the entire disc enthralling.]

Buy it ... you'll love it.

Finally the original (circa 1960's) Misa Luba is available on CD. That makes this CD well worth owning. The Misa Crolla and Misa Flamenca that are also on this CD are no more than filler and add nothing except inconvenience to the CD. I would much prefer a CD that contains both sides of the original LP of the Misa Luba and nothing else. Unfortunately, this CD omits the off side of the LP.

The DVD contained in this package is about the Kenya National Choir production of the Misa Luba (circa 1990), a much inferior rendition compared to the original which is contained in this CD, and is of virtually no interest. Why would the consumer care about a biopic of a poor impersonation?

Despite all the filler, this is definitely worth owning.

For more than 40 years. the Kyrie from the Missa Luba has been rattling around in the back of my brain so I finally decided to buy it. The other masses on the cd are interesting, but to me do not seem to have the same power as the Missa Luba

In the late 1950's, a Belgian priest named Guido Haazen arranged the Latin mass using traditional rhythms and melodies of the Luba tribe of the Belgian Congo. He formed a boy's choir, Les Petits Troubadours du Roi Baudoin, from boys at the local school in Katanga Province. Their incredible music had a brief moment of fame in Europe, culminating in these village boys touring Europe and performing with the Vienna Boys Choir.

They returned to Katanga just about the time all hell broke loose there and they did not record again that I know of.

The DVD exceeded all my expectations. It took me back to my youth when a cousin , who was a missionary in Belgian Congo, brought us the little 45 record of Missa Luba by the Troubadours of King Baudoin. It was so good to hear (and see) this again.The first time I heard it must be at least 50 years ago, fantastic.