Rating: 4/5
Review:
Superb performances
This is another superbly sung and produced disc from the Brabant
Ensemble, but for me the music isn’t quite as great as some of
their other recordings.
de Févin was a
rough contemporary of Josquin and in his excellent notes, Steven Rice
describes him as “one of the most accomplished creators of sacred
music around 1500.” He was also a pioneer of the parody mass and
plainly an important musical figure of his time. However,
“accomplished” doesn’t necessarily mean moving or deeply
spiritual and although I find his music beautiful in places, it
doesn’t quite speak to me a some others do – like the Brabant
Ensemble’s fabulous recordings of other quite obscure composers
such as Phinot and Crecquillon.
That’s not to say
that this is a sub-standard disc in any way. The singing is superb:
technically impeccable, perfectly balanced, fully engaged with the
texts and with that luminous beauty which the Brabants so often
create. The recorded sound does it full justice, the notes are full
and very illuminating and the presentation is lovely. The only non-
five-star thing about this disc for me is de Févin’s music itself.
You may well disagree with me about this; Steven Midgley, whose
judgement I respect greatly, finds it sublime, so it’s plainly a
personal thing. It’s certainly a wonderful performance and I would
recommend that you try it and see for yourself.
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