Psallite!-Renaissance Christmas

Anonymous (Composer), Spanish Anonymous (Composer), William Byrd (Composer), Geronimo Gonzalez (Composer), Jacobus Handl (Gallus) (Composer), Josquin Desprez (Composer), Orlande de Lassus (Composer), Jean Mouton (Composer), Giovanni Maria Nanino (Composer), Perotin (Composer), Hieronymus Praetorius (Composer), Michael Praetorius (Composer), Thomas Stoltzer (Composer), John Taverner (Composer), Christmas Traditional (Composer), Chanticleer (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Chanticleer
• Composer: Anonymous, Spanish Anonymous, William Byrd, Geronimo Gonzalez, Jacobus Handl (Gallus), et al.
• Audio CD (August 20, 1993)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chanticleer Records
• ASIN: B000003VV8
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #355,630 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( S ) > Stoltzer, Thomas
  #16 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( P ) > Praetorius, Hieronymus
  #40 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( T ) > Taverner, John

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Chanticleer, North America's only full-time, professional, all-male choir, prides itself on its widely varied repertoire, and here the group presents an ambitious program of Renaissance works, several of which are available on an earlier release, Chanticleer in Concert. Among the 20 selections are works by Josquin, Mouton, Lassus, Byrd, Perotin, Praetorius, and Taverner. Anonymous works include the ever-popular Spanish song "Riu, riu, chiu" and its frequent companion "E la don don." Most of these pieces are very difficult to sing, and Chanticleer manages the technical difficulties quite well. Stylistically, however, the performances lack distinction--while very pretty and respectful of the music's integrity, the ensemble's predominant trademark sound overrides everything else, giving this music the same character as works of later periods and performance styles. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Renaissance Done Right, October 31, 2000

By	Ryan Pagenkopf (Irving, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was the first CD of Chanticleer's that I ever purchased and I have been enamored with the group ever since. Especially from an all-male vocal ensemble, I was not expecting much in the way of the blend and tonality necessary for Renaissance music. Having sung in a high school Madrigal group with a conductor who received his Master's in Renaissance Music, I felt able to judge their quality. I was more than pleasantly surprised; I was dumbfounded at the capability of this group to effectively and correctly sing this style of music. Renaissance music is not one of the hardest forms of music to sing but singers typically treat it with such ease that they often sing it incorrectly. Chanticleer does an excellent job of conveying the text of what they are singing through their rich but delicate blend and uncanny control of dynamic contrast. The O Admirabile Commercium immediately sets the tone for the rest of the repertoire: controlled, fluid, engaging. They also introduce pieces that are necessarily stays of Renaissance music. While most ensembles turn to Palestrina and Victoria, Chanticleer instead gives the listener great music from less-known composers. They offer a wonderful Renaissance education with every piece as they run the gamut on style, text, and language, and never failing to give each piece its due by treating it as if it were a premier. I have bought three other Chanticleer CDs because of this one. It is music that is fit for any time of year, not just Christmas, and it is done right.