Rating: 5/5
Review:
An excellent disc
I have owned and loved the original issue of this excellent recording for years and I am delighted to see it reissued.
Guerrero worked in the cathedral at Seville from 1554 until his death in 1599, and Michael Noone describes it in his excellent notes as "an attempt to imagine the Requiem Mass and Burial Service that was celebrated in Seville's great Cathedral after the composer's death." Guerrero's music is fabulous, and in my view it is of the same quality as that of Guerrero's contemporary Victoria. It is rich, passionate and very beautiful and the programme as a whole, which includes chant and motets and instrumental pieces by other composers (including Josquin) forms a lovely programme.
The performances are excellent. Noone notes that " One of the remarkable features of Seville Cathedral's music making was the participation of ministriles who played shawms, cornetts, sackbuts and dulcians," and their effect here is wonderful. There is an excellent balance between chant, unaccompanied polyphony and the use of the instruments. It is technically very good, with real engagement with the text and a fine, resonant acoustic (in a London Church rather than Seville Cathedral) which gives genuine atmosphere to the recording.
I think this is an excellent and immensely enjoyable and moving disc, and recommend it very warmly.
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