William Byrd: Missa A 5. Magnificat; Arvo Pärt: Magnificat-Antiphone (1997)
William Byrd: Missa A 5. Magnificat; Arvo Pärt: Magnificat-Antiphone (1997)
William Byrd 01. Senex Puerum Portabat A 5 – Arvo Pärt 02. 7 Magnificant-Antiphone: O Weisheit - Kai Wessel 03. 7 Magnificant-Antiphone: O Adonai - Kai Wessel 04. 7 Magnificant-Antiphone: O Spross Aus Isais Wurzel - Kai Wessel 05. 7 Magnificant-Antiphone: O Schussel Davids - Kai Wessel 06. 7 Magnificant-Antiphone: O Morgenstern - Kai Wessel 07. 7 Magnificant-Antiphone: O Konig Aller Volker - Kai Wessel 08. 7 Magnificant-Antiphone: O Immanuel - Kai Wessel William Byrd 09. Magnificant - Kai Wessel 10. Senex Puerum Portabat A 4 – Arvo Pärt 11. Arbos 12. Summa 13. Pari Intervallo William Byrd 14. Missa A 5: Kyrie 15. Missa A 5: Gloria 16. Missa A 5: Credo 17. Missa A 5: Sanctus 18. Missa A 5: Benedictus 19. Missa A 5: Agnus Dei Bass Clarinet – Jelte Althuis Bassoon – Alban Wesly Clarinet – Ivar Berix Oboe, Oboe d'Amore – Eduard Wesly Saxophone – Raaf Hekkema + Kai Wessel - altus
When it comes to melody, the uncompromising linear clarity and chamber-style flexibility enjoyed by reed instruments give them a big advantage over choirs and orchestras. Even hard-liners from the historical performance camp are swept away by the beauty and brilliance with which Calefax bring new zest to well-known and much-performed works from Bach to Berg.
Accomplished wind virtuosity is what makes the sacred sublimity of these compositions by Byrd and Pärt into genuine sound orgies in which the beauty of Kai Wessel’scountertenor voice seems to shine like a radiant, solitary light. --- arkivmusic.com
The English Renaissance master William Byrd and the Baltic innovator Arvo Pärt have much more in common than just one-syllable last names. Both draw on the compositional technique of the Middle Ages and Renaissance and are featured together on this recording by the Calefax Reed Quintet, a one-of-a-kind Dutch wind ensemble. Their music also finds a strong vocal advocate in this splendid performance by the countertenor Kai Wessel. --- prestoclassical.co.uk
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