Henri Hardouin: Complete Four-Part Masses, Volume Two
Henri Hardouin (1727–1808) was a chorister in Rheims Cathedral, rising swiftly through the ranks to become maître de chapelle – until the French Revolution disbanded religious establishments. As a priest he was in potential danger and seems to have gone into hiding until, in 1794, the death of Robespierre allowed him to resume his duties. Hardouin’s six four-part masses, published in 1772, are unusual for their time in being a cappella, and they enjoyed wide circulation in pre-Revolutionary France. Since then they have been roundly neglected – an omission this first complete recording intends to rectify.
St Martin’s Chamber Choir
Timothy J. Krueger, director
Listen To This Recording:
-
Mass No. 2, Cantata Domino in cymbalis (publ. 1772)
- I Kyrie
- II Gloria
- III Credo
- IV Sanctus
- V O salutaris hostia
- VI Benedictus
- VII Agnus Dei
- VIII Domine salvum fac
- I Kyrie
- II Gloria
- III Credo
- IV Sanctus
- V O salutaris hostia
- VI Benedictus
- VII Agnus Dei
- VIII Domine salvum fac
- I Kyrie
- II Gloria
- III Credo
- IV Sanctus
- V O salutaris hostia
- VI Benedictus
- VII Agnus Dei
- VIII Domine salvum fac
Mass No. 5, Laudate nomen Domini (publ. 1772)
Mass No. 6, Collaudate canticum (publ. 1772)
FIRST RECORDINGS
musica Dei donum :
‘The St Martin’s Chamber Choir comprises 24 singers, six in each voice group. It is probably impossible to say how many voices Hardouin had at his disposal. The singing is such that the transparency in the tutti episodes is satisfying. The choir shows the flexibility that is needed, and its members convince in the solo episodes. It is nice and praiseworthy that Krueger decided to use historical pronunciation.
Like the first volume, this sequel attests to the quality of Hardouin’s oeuvre, and shows that he was more than just a voice in the choir. His six masses recorded so far prove that he was someone with a style that was different from that which dominated his time. That is reason enough to investigate these discs. In Krueger and his singers Hardouin has found his ideal advocates.’
—Johan van Veen, musica Dei donum
CD HotList :
‘I was deeply impressed by these world-premiere recordings of a cappella masses written just before the French Revolution. Henri Hardouin was maitre de chapelle at Rheims Cathedral until the Revolution forced him into hiding (as a priest, he was in serious danger); he remains deeply obscure, and his works are rarely published or recorded. But these Masses are absolutely gorgeous: simple and straightforward in structure, but melodically sweet and imbued with a golden light of devotion. The St. Martin’s Chamber Choir’s […] performs these works with a hushed intensity and in a reverberant acoustic that showcase the music perfectly. Every library with a classical music collection should consider picking up this disc, as well as Volume 1.’
—Rick Anderson, CD HotList
MusicWeb International :
‘Once again we owe Toccata our thanks for rescuing neglected music, this time by a French priest-composer whose works could not be performed during the first phase of the Revolution between 1791 and 1794. […] the music is nonetheless attractive and the performances and recording do it justice.’
—Brian Wilson, MusicWeb International