Manuel Cardoso: Complete Masses, Volume One
Manuel Cardoso (1566–1650) was one of the most important composers of the golden age of Portuguese polyphony around the turn of the seventeenth century. But history has not been kind to him: the 1755 Lisbon earthquake that ruined the Convento do Carmo, where he spent most of his working life, also resulted in the loss of the only attested image of the composer and a good deal of his music – and much of that which survived has been neglected, his Masses included. This series will shed long-overdue light on these forgotten masterpieces, beginning with two ‘parody’ Masses, so called because they are based on existing music, in this instance two Palestrina motets.
The Choir of the Carmelite Priory, London
Simon Lloyd, director
Listen To This Recording:
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PALESTRINA
- Hic est discipulus ille (1569)*
- I Kyrie
- II Gloria
- III Credo
- IV Sanctus
- V Benedictus
- VI Agnus Dei
- Tradent enim vos (1575)
- I Kyrie
- II Gloria
- III Credo
- IV Sanctus
- V Benedictus
- VI Agnus Dei
- VII Agnus Dei II
CARDOSO
Missa Hic est discipulus ille (publ. 1625)
PALESTRINA
CARDOSO
Missa Tradent enim vos (publ. 1625)
ALL EXCEPT * FIRST RECORDINGS
Classical Music Sentinel :
‘Thankfully we still have musicians of high calibre like the Choir of the Carmelite Priory, London to carry the torch forward. […]
These two mass settings by Cardoso are often referred to as “parody masses” because they use motets by Palestrina as their foundation. But the polyphonic edifice built upon this foundation is pure Cardoso. This was at a time when tonality was in flux and serendipitous discoveries occured on a regular basis. Cardoso’s use of accidentals and unusual intervals elevated the harmonic fabric of the music to levels unheard of before. Along with Tallis, Byrd, Gibbons, Desprez, Lassus, Morales, etc… the music of Manuel Cardoso still stands today as one of the highest achievements in human endeavour.’
—Jean-Yves Duperron, Classical Music Sentinel