Search - Bernhard Landauer, Bernd Lambauer, Jim Curry :: Rene Clemencic Edition Vol. 5 - Cathedral Sounds / Ockeghem

René Clemencic has developed a somewhat dubious reputation among some early-music cognoscenti, based on recordings from the 1970s and 1980s that thoroughly--even luridly--orchestrated Renaissance works that are generally performed a cappella or with very light instrumental doubling. Those who disapproved of Clemencic's practices may be astonished (happily) by this 1997 recording. The centerpiece of the disc is Ockeghem's little-known three-voice Missa sine nomine ("No-Name" Mass), performed simply and fluently by three unaccompanied singers. Clemencic plays a model late-Gothic organ between the verses of the Kyrie and to introduce some of the other movements; otherwise, the performance is almost austere. Also on the disc are two Ockeghem motets, Ut heremita solus performed by the organ and Renaissance trombone alone, and the well-known Alma redemptoris Mater. The latter is for four voices; since Clemencic has only three singers here, he uses the trombone for the bass voice. This isn't entirely successful, but never mind: this disc has a very respectable performance of a rare Mass by one of history's great composers--at an extremely reasonable price. --Matthew Westphal