Today’s episode is dedicated to music for Lent and Holy Week by composers born in the Netherlands: Orlandus Lassus, Nicolas Gombert and Jacques Arcadelt.
During Lent the seven penititial psalms are traditionally sung. Orlandus Lassus put them to music as a cyclus for five voices. Orlandus Lassus set all of them to music in the form of a cycle for five voices. We are listening to the fifth of this cycle.
Following that, we have two motets by Nicolas Gombert. The second one, ‘Stabat autem Petrus,’ deals with the denial of Jesus by his disciple Peter. Finally, we will hear some Lamentations by Jacques Arcadelt, who is primarily known for his chansons and madrigals. His religious works are not extensive: he composed only three short cycles of Lamentations. As a kind of encore at the end, we will listen to a spiritual madrigal by Carlo Gesualdo, which is included in his fourth book of madrigals.
Orlandus Lassus (1532-1594)
1. Quintus Psalmus Poenitentialis: Domine, exaudi orationem meam a 5
Collegium Vocale Gent olv. Philippe Herreweghe
(CD: “Psalmi Dividis Poenitentiales” – Harmonia mundi HMC 901831.32, 2006)
Nicolas Gombert (ca. 1495-ca. 1560)
2. O crux splendidior a 6
3. Stabat autem Petrus a 5
The Sound and the Fury
(CD: “Nicolas Gombert 3” – ORF CD 3077, 2009)
Jacques Arcadelt (1507-1568)
4. Lamentationes Jeremiae II
Choeur de Chambre de Namur conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón
(CD: “Motetti – Madrigali – Chansons” – Ricercar RIC 392, 2018)
Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613)
5. Sparge la morte al mio Signor nel viso a 5
La Compagnia del Madrigale
(CD: “Responsoria 1611” – Glossa GCD 922803, 2014)
aanvulling:
Andrea Gabrieli (1532/33-1585)
6. Intonazione del quarto tono
Roberto Loreggian, organ
(CD: “Complete Keyboard Music” – Brilliant Classics 94432, 2015)
Pictured above: Philippe Herreweghe (photographer: Michiel Hendrickx)
