Orlando di Lasso (Lassus): Psalmi penitentialis Nr.1-7 "Bußpsalmen" auf 2 CDs

Lasso komponierte eine außerordentliche Menge qualitativ hochwertiger Musik in einer Vielzahl an Stilen. Zeit seines Lebens genoß er hohes Ansehen, insbesondere bei seinem Arbeitgeber, Herzog Albrecht, und schließlich auch bei dessen Sohn und Nachfolger Wilhelm, mit dem Lasso eine lebhafte Korrespondenz führte, manchmal in einem Gemisch aus verschiedenen Sprachen. Man sah in ihm offensichtlich nicht nur einen begabten und äußerst einfallsreichen Musiker, sondern auch einen lustigen und unterhaltsamen Freund. Er kam über die Landesgrenzen hinaus zu Ruhm, gewann mehrere internationale Kompositionswettbewerbe, und wurde von Kaiser Maximilian geehrt, der ihn 1570 in den Adelsstand erhob und mit einem Wappen auszeichnete, ebenso wie von Papst Gregor XIII., der ihn 1574 in Rom zum Ritter des goldenen Sporn schlug.

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Lassus was one of the most prolific of all Renaissance composers, writing an extraordinary quantity of music of high quality and in an exceptionally wide range of styles. Only a handful of Lassus' contemporaries begin to approach his compositional refinement and scarcely any can match his innate ability to express the meaning of a text so clearly. This skill comes to the fore in these setting of the seven Penitential Psalms, texts which held an important place in the liturgy during the Church's build-up to Easter. These are works of a profoundly gloomy nature. Each Psalm takes its 'mode' (or 'tonality') from one of the sequence of eight 'modes' by which plainchant had come to be categorized. Lassus solves the problem of what to do with the eighth mode by amalgamating two of the so-called 'Laudate' Psalms (those beginning with the word 'Laudate' - an instruction to the people to praise God) into a work full of vitality. Although having absolutely no liturgical link with the Penitential Psalms, Lassus published all eight works together, perhaps exactly because they are so different in mood.

Rezensionen

'It has been a long wait, but we now have the Penitential Psalms readily available in a set that will give lasting satisfaction. Seize the day!' (Fanfare, USA)

'This ensemble offers an extraordinarily convincing and unfailingly absorbing realization of the intimacy and dark introspection central to these wonderful compositions. A recording that belongs in any proper library of Renaissance music' (American Record Guide)

'Vocal chamber music of a very high order' (Choir & Organ)

'The magnitude of resonance created by this group is striking … Henry's Eight has the flair and ability to take us on a disctinctive journey back to the 1560s with an impressive display of sonorous singing. The eight voices have been captured splendidly by Hyperion, whose recording technique is to be praised' (Cathedral Music)