COMPOSERS: Dufay
LABELS: Naxos
WORKS: Missa L’homme armé; Supremum est mortalibus bonum
PERFORMER: Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
CATALOGUE NO: 8.553087 DDD
These two great works, dating from the 15th century, have been recorded before, but only here are the complex movements of the Mass separated by plainsong, as in a church service. I slightly prefer the Hilliard Ensemble (EMI Reflexe), with its faster pace, lower pitch and closer acoustic. As for the motet, the Naxos recording is the best ever. This is not dead history, but music brought wonderfully alive. Anthony Pryer
Dufay: Missa L'homme armé; Supremum est mortalibus bonum
These two great works, dating from the 15th century, have been recorded before, but only here are the complex movements of the Mass separated by plainsong, as in a church service. I slightly prefer the Hilliard Ensemble (EMI Reflexe), with its faster pace, lower pitch and closer acoustic. As for the motet, the Naxos recording is the best ever. This is not dead history, but music brought wonderfully alive. Anthony Pryer
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:12 pm