And So It Goes

If Ye Love Me - Tallis Quatre Petites Prieres De Saint Francois d'Assise - Poulenc Herr, Lehre Doch Mich - Mauersberger Magnus es Tu Domine - Des Prez Psaume 121 - Milhaud Ave Verum Corpus - Byrd Sunt Lacrimae Rerum - La Rue Ach Wie Nichtig Ach Wie Fluchtig - Cornelius De Profundis - Mauersberger Hear The Voice And Prayer - Tallis Tenebrae - Ludwig

"Hear the Voices" is not just the line of a prayer appearing several times on this CD, but also an appeal to the listeners –– to listen between the lines, to hear the centuries between the lives of the various composers, between them and us, to hear the links between their styles of composition, the subtle nuances with which certain words are interpreted by sounds. This all calls for more careful attention than simple “listening”. The musical journey starts in France, before taking us back half a millennium to the Flemish region with Luther as our guide. Then there’s a little detour to the Iberian Peninsula, a trip to the British Isles, before we finally return to amarcord’s native skies in present-day Germany.

Sic Deus Dilexit Introitus Kyrie Incessament Graduale Credo Alleluia Offertorium Sanctus Agnus Dei Incessament Communio Incessament Mon Povre Ceur Lamente

"Incessament" – hidden behind this mysterious title is an exciting CD program at whose center stands the world premiere recording of the Missa Incessament by Pierre de la Rue (c. 1452-1518). Gregorian chant from the Moosburg Gradual supplements the Mass. Two of de la Rue’s compositions with close connections to the Mass frame the program: the French chanson Incessament, on which the Missa Incessament is based, and its incarnation as a Latin motet – Sic deus dilexit – for Protestant Germany. The program was planned in collaboration with J. Evan Kreider, the leading de la Rue researcher, and Gregorian-chant expert Godehard Joppich. This CD was recorded in the marvelous basilica of the Benedictine Monastery at Wechselburg, Saxony, providing the music with an appropriate atmosphere.

Alle Psallite Cum Luya Veni Redemptor Gentium Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland Angelus Ad Virginiem Magnificat Sexti Toni Veni Redemptor Gentium Stella Splendens Pastores Loquebantur Inter Se Officium Nativitatis Domini Vetus Abit Littera Vid erunt Omnes Sys Willekomen Heirre Kerst In Dulci Jubilo O Viridissma Virga There is No Rose Of Swych Vertu Es Ist Rose Entsprungen Veni Redemptor Gentium Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland Alleluya: A Nywe Werk

"Nun komm der Heiden Heiland", containing Early and Renaissance Christmas music, won a CASA award in 2006 for "Best classical album" and is a most rewarding of the award. The tale told by the booklet stretches back to St. Augustine and his role in early Christian church music, all by way of explaining the origins of Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Now come, savior of the Gentiles), the hymn that gives the album its title. It got started as a Latin hymn, Veni redemptor gentium, by Saint Ambrose, the bishop of Milan who baptized Augustine of Hippo; translated into German and simplified somewhat by Martin Luther, it became a pan-Protestant hit. The group's singing is intonationally dazzling and splendidly controlled, fully the equal of any of the world's more flamboyant male vocal ensembles but without drawing attention to itself.

Hosianna Dem Sohne Davids Hymnus - In Adventu Domini Ante Luciferum Genitus O Heiland Reiss Die Himmel Auf Angelus Ad Virginem Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging Ther Is No Rose Of Swych Vertu Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen O Sanctissma The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy In Dulci Jubilo O Regem Coeli Weinacht Schlaf, Mein Kindlein Riu Riu Chiu Rise Up Shepard And Follow La Baylere O Jesulein Suss Ich Steh An Deiner Krippen Hier Ding Dong Ding Stille Nacht

Christmas has been celebrated for many centuries in all corners of the world, and this tradition has brought forth what are probably some of the most beautiful and enduring folk songs. The present CD is as diverse as the cultures. It goes from the well-known 'Es ist ein Ros entspungen' by way of Sicily ('O sanctissima') to Trinidad, and from Gregorian chant through the Renaissance to a Christmas motet by Thomaskantor Erhard Mauersberger (1903-1982). 'In adventu Domini' contains Advent and Christmas pieces from a period of over a half a millennium, including real gems that are gems not just because they are not to be found on any other Christmas CD. And of course the Leipzig vocal ensemble Amarcord once again arouses enthusiasm with its incomparable sound.