Search - Choir of Clare College;Cambridge :: Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Cantiones Sacrae

Delightful music sung well

Bryan Park | Philadelphia, PA USA | 11/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a choral singer, I find that I only gain an appreciation for most music through the process of singing it. It's rare that I'll automatically like a musical piece upon first listening. Well, this recording captures music that I enjoyed immediately. Sweelinck is not that well known a composer, and unjustly so. The music of Sweelinck presented here is gorgeous.The Choir of Clare College sings sensitively, especially through the many abrupt meter changes. Blend is excellent. The picture of the choir in the liner notes shows a choir of 32, yet they sound like a choir a fraction of their size. The organ playing is especially well done--providing a light tonal background, yet never getting in the way. And this set is a bargain--2 CDs for the price of one. Highly recommended. It would be a good introduction for someone who wants to get their feet wet in Renaissance music in general, and Latin sacred choral music in particular."