Outil de traduction (Très approximatif)
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Reviewer:
Fabrice Fitch
Unlike
Palestrina, Lassus didn’t devote an entire publication to the Song of Songs,
that book of the Bible whose origins in erotic poetry set it apart from other
sacred texts; but, all told, there’s enough music to fill several CDs. This
recital contains no fewer than eight motets for various scorings, the most
famous of which is probably the eight-voice Osculetur me, of which The Tallis
Scholars gave a memorable account many years ago (Gimell, 7/89). The Namur
Chamber Choir match the variety of Lassus’s scorings by teaming up with the
instrumental ensemble Clematis (which consists of bowed strings, lute and
cornett), to which they add their in-house organist. This results in an intimate
sound with plenty of bloom when called for (as in the six-voice Vulnerasti cor
meum), though at times the consistent doubling of voices and instruments
thickens the texture a touch more than would be ideal (as in the two five-voice
motets). In line with its past discography, the choir on its own is rather
soft-centred. Its account of Osculetur me is more languid than The Tallis
Scholars’, making for an effective alternative. There are more incisive
approaches to Lassus, certainly, but at its best this is a rewarding addition to
the discography. My only regret is that the programme has not stuck more closely
to its title. Lassus based Mass cycles on three of these motets, and it would
have been logical to choose one of these to complete the disc. (Given their fine
account of its model and its contrast with The Tallis Scholars’ account just
mentioned, the Mass on Osculetur me naturally suggests itself, and to my
knowledge neither of the others has been recorded.) Instead we get the Missa
Susanne un jour, which is already serviceably represented in the discography and
has no discernible connection to the Song of Songs (quite the opposite, in
fact). It’s a strange choice, as a consequence of which the recital feels
strangely unresolved.
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