Price: 19,80 €

---

Why should one write new polyphonies when there are so many around already ?
There are many indeed. For instance Palestrina wrote many motets based on the texts of Temporal masses.. However, who has heard of them ? Palestrina’s total works, in 32 volumes, do exist, as published by the Italian Institute for Historical Music, but they are not for sale.

When checking into the counter-reformation composers, one cannot fail to notice that many of the works are not accesible for most of the liturgical choirs, and that the texts of the so-called easy works seldom meet liturgical requirements.

Therefore, the present collection stemmed from a deep desire to ally simplicity and beauty in the field of liturgical music. Even if some choirs draw their inspiration from the counter-reformation repertory, a genuine need still exists for the creation of a repertory that can go without needing immense means and scientific sophistication, while promoting beauty. Frédéric Moreau-Saran started work with this idea in mind. On will recall his first homophonic harmonizations in an arrangement of D. Buxtehude’s cantata Membra Jesu nostri by the Stella Maris Choir of Brussels. The success was such that he was encouraged to persevere in this way, and he then created the Musica sacra collection.

With a characteristically simple melodic line and a poignant melody, this musical literature offer a most spiritual work.

The first 20 pieces of the collection were recorded and are available in a two-disk album.

These compositions also exist as scores more particularly intended for those choirs dedicated to the improvement of the liturgical beauty.



Listen to extracts of works from the Musica sacra collection
Composer : Frederic Moreau-Saran
Interpretation : St-Bellarmin Ensemble

Miserere – Psalm 50 for the times of penance


Subvenite – Funeral ceremony, song for the removal of the corpse


In paradisum – Funeral ceremony, song for the conclusion of the prayers of intercession.


Tenebrae – Extract of the Office of the Sacred Triduum


Te saeculorum – Hymn for the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ


You may download scores in the scores database on this homepage.