Excellent compilation
An excellent compilation of early church music performed beautifully by the Taverner Consort, Choir, and Players, and conducted by Andrew Parrott. The recording is clear and the sound well balanced. It is also an exceptional value - 30 tracts (2 1/2 hours of music) on 2 CDs for less that $10.

The Beauty of God
The music captures the praise due to God. The instruments and voices give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

a voice teacher and early music fan
AN OUTSTANDING VARIETY OF EARLY MUSIC

Polychoral music-music written for several groups of musicians separated spatially-was not peculiar to Venice, but it was associated with the Basilica of San Marco and ceremonial events in the Venetian cultural calendar.


Chordal writing reached its peak in the polychoral works of Giovanni Gabrieli(1555-1612), the principal church composer in Italy of the progressive development. He not only increased the number of choirs to four and the total pitch range to over four octaves, but also juxtaposed passages of conventional rhythm with strikingly jagged suncopated motifs. These dramatic contrasts were further intensified by occasional chromatic harmony and unusual dissonances and, more significantly, by the use of instruments that alternated or combined with the voices. All of these traits are well demonstrated in the music on disc 1 of this set. His music is wonderfully exciting!!!!


Upon his death, Monteverdi succeeded him, and took his own direction musically; much different from Gabrielli. It is not just that their styles are different, but the instrumentation is much different as you will hear upon listening to disc 2.


Two subsequent directors of music represented here are Legrenzi and Lotti, both primarily opera composers.

Vivaldi had no direct connection with the basililca; he worked at the 'Pieta', and his motet 'Clarae stellae' was written for a 'Signora Gertruda, a singer who sang at the Pieta. This is one of the most attractive pieces on disc 2, and is often recorded by countertenors (altos)but on this disc is sung by Randi Stene, mezzo soprano, who sings it quite well. Andreas Scholl has recorded this, and I do personally prefer Scholl's countertenor quality for this particular piece.
Monteverdi's 'Currite populi' is another favorite of mine, and its excellently performed herein.


There is just so much to enjoy on these two discs for the early music lover. The instruments are very skillfully played and the styles of the various composers are adhered to all the time. The balance between the voices and the instruments is perfect as one might expect from Parrott's performers. The soloists: Emily van Evera (soprano), Randi Stene (mezzo) and Jeffrey Thomas (tenor) all sang with the correct emotional investment. Certainly worth listening to!!!!

A "Regular People" Review
Venetian Church Music?....never thought I'd be listening to that, anyway this music is for those who seek it out, If thats not you this probably won't interest you (but you can try some renaissance/baroque experimental listening to see if you'd like it!). If your into this though, this is a good deal.

exceptional tone quality
When I purchased this recording, I had not yet had the pleasure of owning an Andrew Parrott/Taverner Consort recording. I was so impressed! Andrew really excercises an understanding of this genre, an understanding that I haven't often seen. In particular I was quite pleased with this rendintion of Gabrieli's "In ecclesiis" (although the Bass, I don't know his name, is too lacking in volume). Other than that, I just adore this CD set. I also recommend Andrew Parrot for anything predating Bach (*not including Bach!). There is a 5 CD of particular interest and quality called "From Monteverdi to Vivaldi" by this same ensemble that you might consider purchasing instead of this set (almost exact same price, and one of the CDs- the better of the two in this set- is included in the 5CD set).