Passietijd In Polyfonie: E.vannevel / Currende

Here is a wonderful selection of 16th-century polyphony appropriate to the solemn days leading up to Easter. The Latin poem Stabat Mater, depicting Mary's grief at the Crucifixion, has inspired many great settings, including the late work of Orlando di Lassus given here. Lamentation verses from the Book of Jeremiah are recited on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Two settings of them are included here, a lengthy one by the Flemish composer Thomas Crequillon, whose ancient style harkens back to Josquin, and a shorter one by the madrigalist Jacob Arcadelt.
The Lamentations are also quoted and paraphrased in the motets by Clemens non Papa and Phillippe Rogier, while the example of Giaches de Wert sets a particularly tragic verse from Ecclesiastes. It could reasonably be said that all of these works are rare--most of them are making their first appearance on CD--but this is beautiful, deeply felt music which, when heard together, makes for a powerful listening experience. Erik Van Nevel gets superb singing from Currende, a truly outstanding early music group numbering up to 15 singers.