Gesualdo: Tenebrae

Gesualdo: Tenebrae
Taverner Consort - Andrew Parrott
Sony Vivarte 62977

Contents:

    In I nocturno

  1. Antiphon: Asiterunt reges terrae
    Psalm: Quare fremuerunt gentes
    Antiphon: Asiterunt reges terrae
  2. Lectio I: De Lamentatione ... Heth
  3. Responsory I: Omnes amici mei
  4. Lectio II: Lamed
  5. Responsory II: Velum templi
  6. Lectio III: Aleph
  7. Responsory III: Vinea mea electa

    8. In II nocturno

  8. Antiphon: Alieni insurrexerunt
    Psalm: Deus in nomine tuo
    Antiphon: Alieni insurrexerunt
  9. Lectio IV: Ex Tractatu ... Protexisti me
  10. Responsory IV: Tamquam ad latronem
  11. Lectio V: Tanta opera bona
  12. Responsory V: Tenebrae factae sunt
  13. Lectio VI: Exacuerunt tamquam
  14. Responsory VI: Animam meam dilectam

    15. In III nocturno

  15. Antiphon: Captabunt in animam justi
    Psalm: Deus ultionum Dominus
    Antiphon: Captabunt in animam justi
  16. Lectio VII: De Epistola ... Festinemus
  17. Responsory VII: Tradiderunt me
  18. Lectio VIII: Adeamus ergo
  19. Responsory VIII: Jesum tradidit impius
  20. Lectio IX: Nec quisquam
  21. Responsory IX: Caligaverunt oculi mei

Performers: David Cordier (countertenor), Jonathan Peter Kenny (countertenor), Timothy Wilson (countertenor), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Charles Daniels (tenor), Nicolas Robertson (tenor, choir), Richard Wistreich (bass), Ben Parry (solo chant); Simon Berridge, Steven Harrold, Christopher Hogan, Tom Phillips, Angus Smith, Paul Tindall, Patrick Ardagh-Walter, Jeremy Birchall, Stephen Charlesworth, John Milne, Jeremy White (choir)

Playing time: 67'

Recording date: October 1996 (Orford)

Carlo Gesualdo (c.1560-1613) was Prince of Naples, and so uniquely able to act as his own patron and compose however he liked. He is also known as a murderer, and all manner of other unsavory things. Nonetheless, his music has been able to hold up, if perhaps only for its bizarre qualities. The present responsories were published in 1611, some of his final compositions. They show him at his most darkly demonic and introverted.

Gesualdo's nine polyphonic settings (Responsory I-IX) for Good Friday are surrounded by appropriate plainchant. The same publication includes similar sets of responsories for Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday.

Some other recordings devoted to Gesualdo's sacred music:

Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsories
Hilliard Ensemble
ECM New Series 21422 (2 CDs)
Gesualdo: Tenebrae
Ensemble Graindelavoix - Björn Schmelzer
Glossa 32116 [CDx3]
Gesualdo: Respons du Vendredi Saint
A Sei Voci - Bernard Fabre-Garrus
Erato 97411
Gesualdo: Sabbati Sancto - Responsoria
Ensemble Vocal Européen - Philippe Herreweghe
Harmonia Mundi Suite 7901320
Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Saturday
Tallis Scholars - Peter Phillips
Gimell 454 915
Gesualdo: Responsoria
De Labyrintho - Walter Testolin
Stradivarius 33842
Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsories for Maundy Thursday
The King's Singers
Signum 048
Gesualdo: Motets and Responsories
Weimar Court Singers
MD+G 621 0741

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Todd M. McComb