Release Date: 01 January 2000
Label: Naxos / Naxos Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 730099026024
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: OCKEGHEM
Description
Johannes Ockeghem (c.1410-1497) RequiemMissa ProlationumIntemerata Dei MaterJohannes Ockeghem - the lucid mysticThe death of the Franco-Flemish musician Johannes Ockeghem, one of thegreat composers of the fifteenth century, on 6th of February 1497 brought astream of poems and laments in his honour. The greatest minds of his time, thepoet Guillaume Cretin, the poet-composer Jean Molinet and even Erasmus ofRotterdam, wrote of Ockeghem in the highest tones. Erasmus had early expressedhimself in less complimentary terms on the flourishing polyphony of churchmusic, but on the old Flemish master, who was nearly ninety, he had to say."Ergone conticuit / Vox illa nobilis / Aurea vox Okegi?" ("Isthen silent / that noble voice / The golden voice of Ockeghem?"). Is itnot conceivable that he was here alluding to Ockeghem's very well paid positionas treasurer at the monastery church of St. Martin in Tours? Surely not sincein all the other eulogies the honesty and piety of the composer is underlined.Ockeghem's pupils, among whom apparently all the great composers of theperiod belong, Josquin, de la Rue, Brumel and Compere, were invited to composelaments for him and met this request, Josquin even with his absolutemasterpiece. The beloved teacher was here described not only as master of allmeans of musical expression, but, at the same time as a wise and learned man,with great knowledge in 'Mathematics, Arithmetic and Geometry, Astrology and,over and above this, Music'. That Ockeghem was very well versed in theseintellectual disciplines is seen also in his great interest in complicatedmusical enigmas and puzzle games, for example a whole Mass in which each of thefour voices sings constantly in its own rhythm, while two voices sing in canon;similarly in the Missa Prolationum, not to mention the Missa Cuiusvis Toniwhich can be sung in all four classical modes, whereby the course of theindividual parts remains in principle the same, while the whole work will soundcompletely different.Yet, these skilful intricacies apart, the actual sound of the music mustbe considered. It remains, with all its extravagant complexity, above allinteresting to hear. It is clear that Ockeghems wealth of imagination knows nobounds. His ideas bubble forth in an almost endless and virtually shapelessstream of luxuriant invention. In this respect there is no music like this.Rhythmically it is extremely variable and of a degree of difficulty that wefirst find again a comparable form in our own century.The music radiates, in spite of its absolute intellectual principles ofconstruction, a marked medieval mysticism, a search for a religious goalthrough the incomprehensibility in music, the well-controlled primeval forestof sounds, which come upon the ears and tell of the incomprehensible power ofGod and the infinite extent and grace of Heaven.Over and above this there is a picture of Johannes Ockeghem. Portraitsof medieval composers are seldom found and this was painted first twenty yearsafter
Tracklisting
Dariia Lytvishko
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop
Alice Di Piazza; Basel Sinfonietta; NDR Bigband; Titus Engel
Anna Alas i Jove; Miquel Villalba
David Childs; Black Dyke Band; Nicholas Childs
Z Tylsar
Zagreb F
Worceste
Musica Ficta:Holten
Musica Ficta/Holten
Musica Ficta/Holten
