Search - Hillard Ensemble, Hesperion :: Introitus

Vintage Hilliard Ensemble

M. R. Simpson | St. Davids, PA | 12/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is the perfect introduction to music of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, and to the extraordinary Hilliard Ensemble. It is comprised of highlights from Hilliard recordings that were made during the years when the remarkable Paul Hillier was a member of the group. Included are some of the greatest and most essential shorter masterpieces of the early Renaissance--namely, John Dunstable's "Veni Sancte Spiritus"--a sublime and mystical work, Guillaume Dufay's "Nuper Rosarum Flores," which Dufay wrote for the opening of Brunelleschi's Duomo in Florence, and the profoundly moving Josquin Desprez motet "La Deploration de la mort Johannes Ockeghem," written to commemorate the death of his teacher, Ockeghem. In addition, there are some fine instrumental performances by Jordi Savall's Hesperion XX, and the added bonus of wonderfully informative and enlightened liner notes. If I could only recommend three CDs of music from this period to someone just getting started, and I literally know hundreds, I would pick this one, a CD entitled "Utopia Triumphans" by the Huelgas Ensemble, and a recording of Josquin Desprez Motets by the Orlando Consort."