Search - Jacob Obrecht, Zoltan Gavodi, János Bali :: Obrecht: Missa O lumen ecclesiae; Missa Malheur me bat /ANS Chorus * Bali

Richly rewarding music by one of the greats of Western music

Sator | Sydney, Australia | 07/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It looks like after 500 years, Jacob Obrecht (1458 - 1505) time has come at last. Amongst those interested in the great age of Renaissance polyphony, Obrecht's reputation only seems to grow, thanks to a large extent to Rob Wegman's wonderful book "Born for the Muses". From a composer who faded rapidly into obscurity after his tragic demise from the plague to be ecclipsed by Josquin's growing reputation, Obrecht may well one soon be regarded as THE composer of this generation.



Wegman sees the Missa O Lumen Ecclasia as a formative work when Obrecht was increasing coming under the influence of Ockeghem while moving away from the models established by Busnoys. It is a key work in Obrecht's development that anticipates key features of the later architechtonic magnificence of his composition that became the most striking achievement this composer. More important is that it is a really immediately attractive composition.



The Missa Malheur Me Bat on the other hand is a work of Obrecht's maturity. It shows his mature style with the exceptionally masterly grasp of large scale structure - the Big Picture of the composition - in a way that makes him really stand out from the other composers of his generation. The recording of the work is based on the publication by Petrucci which differs a little from other surviving manuscripts.



The performances here are superb. If you want to explore the sound world of one of Western music's greatest composers then either here or the other volume of Obrecht's music with the Missa Si DeDero and Pfauenschwanz are the perfect place to start. The all male choir under Bali phrase Obrecht's line with exceptional beautiful while drawing out the underlying drive and unity of the musical conception.



This is amongst the greatest music ever written and is richly rewarding.



Essential listening!"

Powerful surging performance of less known Obrecht works

marcabru | 05/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Based on recordings of masses such as Sub tuum presidium or Malheur me bat, I had an impression of Obrecht as a skilled intellectualist composer rather more interested in abstract plans than musical feeling. The performances by this group of the mass O lumen and the two motets changed my mind. This is emotionally charged, surging music performed and recorded admirably. The ANS choir get a full sound but the polyphonic lines are still clear (at least on a good audio system.) I also recommend the other Obrecht CD by this group with the mass Si dedero. It may be even better than this one."