ANDREA GABRIELI
Missa Pater peccavi: motets and instrumental music.
His Majestys Consort of Voices,
His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts Timothy Roberts.
Hyperion CDA67167 66m
DDD.
Crotchet
Hyperion regale us with another major discovery in the shape of the music
of Andrea Gabrieli, a lesser known figure than the more illustrious Giovanni
but certainly no less inventive and talented. The Missa is framed by other
shorter instrumental and choral works which include a spectacularly opulent
'Ricercar del settimo tuono' and the motet, 'O sacrum convivium', a premiere
example of the younger Gabrieli's contrapuntal skill. The Mass itself is
full of original touches including a dashingly bold Gloria and a lengthy
but constantly arousing Credo where the noble sounds of the typically Venetian
music are like balm to the ears. Another interesting point is the insertion
of shorter 'tonal exercises' between the Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and the
Agnus Dei, this original exercise enhances the re-creation of an actual Venetian
performance. It is definite that this is one of the highlights of Giovanni
Gabrieli's extensive compositional oeuvre and one looks forward to further
recordings from this source. Indeed, the expertise of HM Sagbutts and Cornets
and Consort of Voices is often breathtaking under Timothy Robert's direction.
A clean, balanced and ultimately truthful recording alongside detailed and
always stimulating notes sum up another spectacular release for this
enterprisingly 'bright' label.
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
