Gombert: Music from the Court of Charles V

Gombert: Music from the Court of Charles V: Motets / Chansons / Mass for 6 Voices
Huelgas Ensemble - Paul Van Nevel
Sony Vivarte 48249

The performance is by a moderate-sized, mixed chamber choir; it is all-vocal, as opposed to most of the Huelgas Ensemble recordings. This disc presents an excellent introduction to Gombert through various genres; his most notable compositions are his set of Magnificats. The opening antiphon is especially complex.

This Mass is not considered to be one of Gombert's major works, but is rather an early summation. The concluding Agnus Dei is thought to be based on ideas of Brumel.

Other recordings devoted to Gombert's sacred music:

Gombert: Magnificats 1-4: Tallis Scholars - Peter Phillips
Gimell 037
Gombert: Sacred Music: Vocal Group Ars Nova - Bo Holten
Kontrapunkt 32038
Gombert: A la coronation: Musiche per l'incoronazione imperiale di Carlo V, Bologna 1530
Odhecaton - Paolo Da Col / Cornetti e tromboni - Bruce Dickey / Ensemble pian & forte - Gabriele Cassone / Liuwe Tamminga
Bongiovanni 5083
Gombert: Tribulatio et angustia: Four- & five-part motets
Brabant Ensemble - Stephen Rice
Hyperion 67614
Gombert: Missa Media Vita In Morte Sumus: The Hilliard Ensemble
ECM New Series 1884
Gombert: Motets / Missa "Beati Omnes": Laudantes Consort - Guy Janssens
Arsonor 005
Gombert: Church Music: Henry's Eight - Jonathan Brown
Hyperion 66828
Gombert: Magnificat / Salve Regina / Credo / Tulerunt Dominum: Oxford Camerata - Jeremy Summerly
Naxos 8.557732
Paradise Regained - Gombert 1: The sound and the fury - Thomas E. Bauer
ORF 463
Gombert: Motets: Beauty Farm
Fra Bernardo 150421 [CDx2]
Gombert: Missa da Pacem - Renaissance Motets: Capella Cordina - Alejandro Planchart
Lyrichord 7245 (LP)

And a program featuring more secular music:

Gombert: Motets / Chansons / Magnificat: Capella Alamire / Woodman Consort - Peter Urquhart
Naxos 8.570180

The other major composer of the generation of Gombert & Willaert was Jacobus Clemens (c.1510-c.1556) who retained a more thoroughly conservative idiom. A recording:

Clemens Non Papa: Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis: Tallis Scholars - Peter Phillips
Gimell 454 913

And a recording which includes tracks by Gombert & Clemens, along with some by the related contemporary Thomas Crecquillon (d.c.1557):

Nicolaas Gombert and the Court of Charles V: Capella Sancti Michaelis / Currende Consort - Erik Van Nevel
Eufoda 1165

Other programs devoted to the Charles V theme:

Carolus Maximus: Music in the Life of Charles V: Pomerium - Alexander Blachly
Glissando 008
Carlos V: Mille Regretz: La Canción del Emperador
La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Hespèrion XXI - Jordi Savall
Alia Vox 9814
Music for Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor: Chapelle du Roi - Alistair Dixon
Signum 019
Reges Terrae: Music from the Time of Charles V
Nordic Voices
Chandos 5050
Tota Vita: Music for Charles V by Canis & Payen
Egidius Kwartet
Etcetera 1239
Music for Emperor Charles V: Capella de la Torre
Coviello Classics 20701

And a recording devoted specifically to fellow composer under Charles V, Crecquillon:

Crecquillon, Vol. I: Missa Domine Deus / Motets
The Choir of the Church of the Advent, Boston - Edith Ho
Arsis 136

A recording by the present ensemble of music by an Italian contemporary:

Festa: Magnificat / Mass Parts / Motets / Madrigals: Huelgas Ensemble - Paul Van Nevel
Sony Vivarte 53116

And a recording of music by a slightly younger contemporary with a vaguely similar career outline:

Manchicourt: Missa Veni Sancte Spiritus / Motets / Chansons: Huelgas Ensemble - Paul Van Nevel
Sony Vivarte 62694

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Todd M. McComb

Gombert: Music from the Court of Charles V

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