COMPOSERS: Power
LABELS: Virgin Veritas
WORKS: Masses and Motets
PERFORMER: The Hilliard Ensemble
CATALOGUE NO: VER 5 61345 2 1982
Leonel Power worked for Henry V’s brother, Thomas, Duke of Clarence. These 1982 recordings did much to support Power’s reputation as a worthy rival to his more famous contemporary, John Dunstaple. The Hilliard Ensemble brings out marvellously the energetic rhythms and clear, warm textures here – especially in the Missa Alma redemptoris mater, a work which pioneered large- scale organisation in settings of the Mass. Occasionally, the Hilliards seem to miss the essential ruggedness of his style (as in the Gloria on track 2), but their endlessly responsive singing of the motets (most delightful in Quam pulchra es) is magical. Anthony Pryer
Power
Leonel Power worked for Henry V’s brother, Thomas, Duke of Clarence. These 1982 recordings did much to support Power’s reputation as a worthy rival to his more famous contemporary, John Dunstaple. The Hilliard Ensemble brings out marvellously the energetic rhythms and clear, warm textures here – especially in the Missa Alma redemptoris mater, a work which pioneered large- scale organisation in settings of the Mass.
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:39 pm