David Skinner & Stephen Farr – Hieronymus Praetorius: Motets in 8, 10, 12, 16 & 20 Parts (2019) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

The large-scale works of Hieronymus Praetorius (1560–1629) owe much to the great polychoral tradition mastered by Hans Leo Hassler and the great Venetian composer Giovanni Gabrieli. Hieronymus does not disappoint with his vivid expression of texts, intricate counterpoint, and sumptuously sonorous and inventive harmonies: this is Northern Germany’s noble response to the Italians, and to the Roman Counter-Reformation.

The programme displays his creativity and ingenuity across a number of compositional forms, from the grand polychoral works (performed here with various combinations of cornetts and sackbuts with organ continuo) solo choir and instrumental items, to plainchant alternatim featuring the great historical organ at Denmark’s Roskilde Cathedral.

This is the first release on the new Inventa Records label – both a specialist early music label and new home for the award-winning consort Alamire.

Tracklist

Disc 1
1. Alamire, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Dixit Dominus a12 (05:49)
2. Alamire & David Skinner – Nunc dimittis a8 (07:34)
3. Stephen Farr, Alamire & David Skinner – Sequentia: Grates nunc omnes (08:03)
4. Alamire, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Angelus ad pastores ait a12 (05:59)
5. His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Ecce Dominus veniet a8 (04:52)
6. Alamire, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Decantabat populus a20 (05:44)
7. Stephen Farr, Alamire & David Skinner – Kyrie summum (09:12)
8. Stephen Farr, Alamire & David Skinner – Gloria summum (10:27)
Disc 2
1. Alamire & David Skinner – Laudate Dominum a8 (04:36)
2. Stephen Farr, Alamire & David Skinner – Sanctus summum (04:28)
3. Stephen Farr, Alamire & David Skinner – Agnus Dei summum (05:34)
4. Alamire, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Iubilate Deo a12 (04:59)
5. His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Ecce quam bonum a8 (04:06)
6. Alamire, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Levavi oculos meos a10 (05:28)
7. Stephen Farr, Alamire & David Skinner – Sequentia: Victimae paschali laudes (07:47)
8. Alamire, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts & David Skinner – Exultate iusti a16 (05:36)