Ockeghem: Requiem / Missa Prolationum / Intemerata Dei Mater

Johannes Ockeghem: Requiem / Missa Prolationum / Intemerata Dei Mater
Musica Ficta - Bo Holten, dir.
Naxos 8 554260

Contents:

    Johannes Ockeghem:
  1. Motet: Intemerata Dei Mater

  2. Johannes Ockeghem: Requiem
  3. Introitus
  4. Kyrie
  5. Graduale
  6. Tractus
  7. Offertorium

  8. Johannes Ockeghem: Missa "Prolationum"
  9. Kyrie
  10. Gloria
  11. Credo
  12. Sanctus
  13. Benedictus
  14. Agnus Dei

Playing time: 67' 46"

Performers: Musica Ficta [Jolaine Kerley (soprano), Malene Nordtrop (soprano), Anne Mette Balling (soprano), Rie Koch (soprano), Ellen-Marie Christensen (alto), Birte Stokkebæk (alto), Birgitte Stougaard (alto), Palle Jensen (tenor), John Kjøller (tenor), Kim Nandfred (tenor), Ole Norup (bass), Hans Henrik Raaholt (bass), Anders Holte (bass), Torben Eskildsen (bass)] - Bo Holten, dir.

Recording site and date:
Kastelskirken, Copenhagen, Denmark [17.-19. February 1997 (on CD box), 17.-19. January 1997 (on enclosed booklet)]

Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.):
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.):
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 21/4-206 (march/april 1998)

Comments:
Information from owned CD.

Pierre-F. Roberge

Ockeghem's Requiem is one of the most famous items in the 15th century Franco-Flemish repertory. Although the polyphony is quite restrained, and often in only two parts, it continues to make a big impact on listeners from all backgrounds. Ockeghem's Requiem is also the earliest polyphonic setting of the requiem mass to have survived, although a now-lost setting by Dufay is thought to have been written earlier.

Ockeghem is somewhat rare among composers of this era to have written his most adventurous & compelling works in the "mass" form. The Missa Prolationum is highly technical in terms of constructing, being based on strict canon, but nonetheless presents a highly interesting listening experience without regard for the technical constraints. This degree of melodic invention continues to set Ockeghem apart from his contemporaries.

This is a relatively large-scale ensemble, featuring both bass & soprano voices. The texture will correspondingly be somewhat more varied than in some Ockeghem performances.

Two classic recordings featuring these works by an all-male ensemble:

Ockeghem: Missa Prolationum / Marian Motets
Hilliard Ensemble
EMI Reflexe 49798
Ockeghem: Requiem / Missa Mi-Mi
Hilliard Ensemble - Paul Hillier
Virgin Veritas Edition 61219

A few other recordings of the Requiem:

Ockeghem: Requiem
Ensemble Organum - Marcel Pérès
Harmonia Mundi 901441
Lamentationes
Festa / Ockeghem / Gombert
Josquin Capella - Meinolf Brüser
MD+G "Scene" 605 1269
Ockeghem: Requiem / Josquin: Missa L'homme armé super voces musicales
Pro Cantion Antiqua - Bruno Turner
Archiv 415 293
Ockeghem: Requiem / Missa Fors seulement
The Clerks' Group - Edward Wickham
AS&V "Gaudeamus" 168
Ockeghem: Requiem / Missa L'homme armé
Ensemble Métamorphoses de Paris / Ensemble Vocal Coeli et Terra - Maurice Bourbon
Arion 68149

And a classic for the Missa Prolationum:

Johannes Ockeghem: Prince of Music
Missa Prolationum
Cappella Nova - Richard Taruskin
AS&V Gaudeamus 103

Another recent rendition of some of Ockeghem's most original mass cycles:

Music of the Modes
Three Masses by Ockeghem
Capella Alamire - Peter Urquhart
Dorian Discovery 80152

And another Naxos recording devoted to Ockeghem:

Ockeghem: Missa L'homme armé
Oxford Camerata - Jeremy Summerly
Naxos 8.554297

For other recordings, please see the Ockeghem discography by Pierre Roberge.

Other recordings by the present ensemble:

Seized by Sweet Desire
Singing Nuns and Ladies: From the Cathedral to the Bed Chamber
Musica Ficta - Bo Holten
Naxos 8.572265
Danske Julesalmer og Sange - Danish Christmas Music
Musica Ficta - Bo Holten
Naxos 8.553998
Winds and Voices
Music at the Danish Court in the 1540s
Copenhagen Cornetts & Sackbutts / Musica Ficta - Bo Holten
dacapo 8.224077
Medieval Music in Denmark
Musica Ficta - Bo Holten
Da Capo 8.224133
Pederson: Madrigali a 5, Libro I (1608)
Musica Ficta - Bo Holten
Da Capo 8.224219

Finally, a recording with the similar ensemble previously led by Bo Holten, leading to a previous discography:

Portuguese Polyphony
Ars Nova Ensemble - Bo Holten
Naxos 8.553310

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Todd M. McComb