Rating: 5/5
Review:
An excellent reissue
This is an excellent reissue of two terrific discs by the Hilliard Ensemble from the late 1980s. Ockeghem was a singer and composer in Paris, Tours and other places in the late 15th Century and was arguably Europe's pre-eminent composer of the time. This set includes his magnificent Requiem, two other very fine mass settings and some of his best motets. Ockeghem's compositions don't have the immense, complex harmonic structures of, for example, Palestrina's a century later but they have a simpler beauty which I find spellbinding. To risk a possibly clumsy analogy, they have the feel to me of a beautifully proportioned stone church rather than a richly ornamented cathedral - different, but equally beautiful and moving.
The Hilliard Ensemble are perfectly suited to this repertoire. Their slightly spare, haunting sound brings out the music's beauty and depth and David James's plangent countertenor in particular makes it glow. The Clerk's group have also made a series of magnificent recordings of Ockeghem which I own and treasure; this is different in feel but just as good and I love both equally. The recorded sound is excellent and I find the whole thing immensely rewarding.
Certainly if you're looking for somewhere to start with Ockeghem you can't go wrong here and if, like me, you're already a seasoned Ockeghem listener this will make an excellent addition to your collection. Very warmly recommended.
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