Price: 14,66 €

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EUSTACHE DU CAURROY (1549-1609)
The French Victoria
 
Du Caurroy is a little-known composer nowadays, as his works were not published. However, his music was used at the Court of France during the reigns of kings Charles IX, Henri III and Henri IV, whom the composer served for nearly 40 years as the vice-master of the royal chapel and superintendent of the music (1595). In his work Universal harmony (1636) Father Mersenne claims that all the French composers of that time considered him as their master.
 
His counterpoint is fluid, the phrases are ample and sometimes reach a depth of expression that may compare with Victoria’s major works, especially in his Requiem.
 
Du Caurroy’s style alternates an imitative polyphony, embellishing the Gregorian theme (Veni, Sancte Spiritus, Victimae paschali laudes, Requiem) with the regular polyphony which is to become that of the Roman schola before spreading out all over Europe.
 
The Requiem mass (1606) was played for the first time at king Henri IV’s funerals and for many years it remained the official mass for the funerals of the kings of France. That explains why it has been published only once, in 1636. In accordance with the Gallican missal that was in use in Paris at the time, the mass does not include the sequence Dies irae, but extracts of Psalm 123, Si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis.
 
In addition to the Requiem mass, this disk contains liturgical pieces of the highest order, such as the Victimae Paschali, a 7-voice laudes with a double choir, in which the composer brings again the Gregorian theme of the sequence, or the Veni Sancte Spiritus, composed in the same style, and also the motets to the Holy Virgin.
 
This disk is coherent, not only through a fully liturgical repertory, but also because of its artistic unity. The New College Oxford Choir, over the Channel, ranks with the best. Its director, Edward Higginbottom, with his vast experience and deep knowledge of the matter, is an undisputed master of the XVIth century music. Just for fun, he did not hesitate to come and record this disk in the abbey of Valoires, in the Somme area of France.

Contents

1. Veni, Sancte Spiritus
2. Messe de Requiem: Introït
3. Kyrie
4. Si ambulem
5. Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe
6. Sanctus
7. Agnus Dei
8. Communio: Lux æterna
9. Benedicamus Dómino
10. Ave Maria
11. Ave Virgo gloriosa
12. Salve Regina
13. Christe qui lux es
14. Victimae Paschali laudes

Choir of New College Oxford
Edward Higginbottom
CD - DDD

Listening

Requiem, introït


Kyrie


Agnus Dei


Ave Maria


Victimae paschali laudes (Beginning and the last Alleluja)


Veni Sancte Spiritus (Beginning and Amen: wonderful!)