De Wert: Settimo Libro de Madrigali (Seventh Book of Madrigals) - Consort of Musicke

Giaches de Wert (Artist), Anthony Rooley (Artist), The Consort of Musicke (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics Imports
• ASIN: B000005GN7
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,588 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sorgi, E Rischiara

2. Misera, Che Faro

3. Donna, Se Ben Le Chiome

4. Vive Doglioso Il Core

5. Vani E Schiocchi

6. Vaghi Boschetti

7. Lo Mi Vivea Del Mio Languir

8. Solo E Pensoso

9. Giunto Alla Tomba

10. Voi Volete Ch'io Muoia

11. Grazie Ch'a Pochi Il Ciel

12. Trist Morir Volea

13. In Qual Parte Of Ratto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, January 25, 2007

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: De Wert: Settimo Libro de Madrigali (Seventh Book of Madrigals) - Consort of Musicke (Audio CD)

EXOTIC, HYPNOTIC AND EROTIC DE WERT!
"Settimo Libro de Madrigali" (Seventh Book of Madrigals) performed by the Consort of Musicke is a group of thirteen madrigals mostly concerned with 'aspects of love' (with apologies to Andrew Lloyd Webber).

Gaiches de Wert (1535-1596) was one of the last two important madrigalists from Northern Europe who worked wholly or mainly in Italy. He was one of the most progressive composers of his day whose works are known for their vivid word painting, telling use of chromaticism, wide voice range, declamatory passages and a tendency to make the lower voices accompany the upper.

He was Director of Music at Mantua, where he composed his seventh and eighth books of five-part madrigals (1581-1586); they were polyphonic and included prominent soprano parts, rapidly running lines and WRITTEN-OUT ornamentation(clever man; interpreting ornaments is the bane of the performers existence). His music did indeed anticipate the new music of Monteverdi, and he was his [predecessor).

This seventh book of Madrigals represent some of DeWert's finest music and covers a wide variety of subjects and moods. The music is rich and densely textured and many dwell on the more painful aspects of love. The poetic text is of exceptionally high quality and is enhanced greatly by Wert's treatment of it: varied vocal scoring, sudden shifts in texture, vivid madrigalisms in response to individual keywords such as 'streams' or 'abyss' 'weeping' 'trembling', and harmonic nuances; he rarely fails to capture the hidden emotional agenda of each text.

The Consort of Musicke was founded by its director ,Anthony Rooley, (Emma's husband) in 1969, at which time there were 6 singers; on this disc there are seven. In addition, Michael Chance-countertenor-makes an occasional appearance when they need his voice.. Unfortunately, he is only on one selection in this group. Other singers involved are:E.Kirkby,E.Tubb, S.LeBlanc (sopranos)-M.Nichols(alto)-A.King,R.Miller(tenors) and A.Ewing(bass). Skilled singers all!!

The singing of the Consort of Musicke responds well to all the demands of this music: unfailingly sensitive to word implications, well shaped melodic lines, balance that allow the textures to breathe and the harmonies to glow. This is indeed an exciting and very entertaining recording, and through the years I have played it again and again!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensuously performed madrigals, April 25, 2005

By 

Leslie Richford (Selsingen, Lower Saxony) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: De Wert: Settimo Libro de Madrigali (Seventh Book of Madrigals) - Consort of Musicke (Audio CD)

Anthony Rooley’s Consort of Musicke is justly famous for its performances and recordings of the madrigals of Monteverdi (on Decca and Virgin), but the ensemble has more to offer than just the works of one composer: here, for example, they have produced an exquisite recording of madrigals on texts by Tasso, Guarini, Petrarca etc. by Giaches de Wert (1535 – 1596), choirmaster at the Mantuan court and immediate predecessor of Monteverdi. The texts are mainly, but not exclusively, laments and are set to music in a way that, when performed as it is done here, can only be described as sensuous, with up to seven voices blending beautifully and justifying Wert’s reputation as a past master of the madrigal. The singers are Emma Kirkby and Evelyn Tubb, soprano, Mary Nichols, alto, Andrew King and Rufus Müller, tenor, and Alan Ewing, bass, all of them first-class representatives of early music singing. They are here joined on one track each by the brilliant countertenor Michael Chance and by soprano Suzie LeBlanc, and as the recording (made in Forde Abbey, England, in 1988) is also of top-class quality, the end result is a superb listening experience – something that I have come to expect of the Consort of Musicke since hearing them live a few years ago. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Track Listing, January 7, 2008

By 

Dmitrirex (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giaches De Wert: Il Settimo Libro de Madrigali (Audio Cassette)

On this Cassette:
Sorgi e rischiara, W vii, 1
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Misera che faro, W vii, 8
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Donna se ben le chiome, for 5 voices, W vii, 11
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Vive doglioso il core, W vii, 17
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Vani e sciocchi non, W vii, 20
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Vaghi boschetti, W vii, 22
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Io mi vivea del mio languir, for 5 voices, W vii, 26
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Solo e penoso, W vii, 32
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Giunto a la tomba, for 5 voices, W vii, 38
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Voi volete ch'io muoia, W vii, 43
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Gratie ch'a pochi il ciel, for 6 voices, W vii, 47
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


Tirsi morir volea, W vii, 56
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke


In qual parte si ratto, W vii, 64
Composed by Giaches de Wert
with Consort of Musicke