Marc’Antonio Ingegneri: Volume Two: Missa Voce Mea A5, Motets for double choir
The Cremonese composer Marc’Antonio Ingegneri (c. 1535/36–92) is chiefly remembered as the teacher of Claudio Monteverdi, while, for well-nigh 500 years, his own achievements were left to sit in the shadows. This second in a series of pioneering recordings from the Choir of Girton College, Cambridge, reveals Ingegneri to have been one of the masters of his age, writing music of breathtaking richness and beauty: the works heard here combine learned, intricate counterpoint with the kind of sheer sonic thrill that brings a shiver of physical excitement. It is, of course, religious music, but it is also extraordinarily passionate, to a degree not previously heard, nor for centuries to come, until the rise of the great Romantic choral works.
Choir of Girton College, Cambridge (Tracks 1–3, 5–8, 10, 12–14)
Historic Brass of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Tracks 1, 3–14)
Jeremy West, leader
Gareth Wilson, director
Listen To This Recording:
- Exultate Deo
- Voce Mea
- I Kyrie
- Domine, exaudi
- II Gloria
- Beata viscera
- III Credo
- Vidi Montes
- O pretiosum
- IV Sanctus – Benedictus
- O quam suavis
- V Agnus Dei
- Ave verum corpus
- Hodie assumpta est Maria
INGEGNERI
PAOLO ANIMUCCIA (formerly attrib. Cipriano de Rore)
INGEGNERI: Missa Voce mea a5
FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘The fine fresh-voiced choir seems completely devoted to this composer. They sing with the belief that this is great music.’
—Gary Higginson, MusicWeb International
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Highly recommended’
—J. F. Weber, Fanfare Magazine, Jan/Feb 2024
Planet Hugill :
‘Girton Choir’s second disc of music by Ingegneri reveals a wealth of hitherto unknown music, the rich textures amplified by the participation of historic brass to superb effect. […]
A remarkable achievement. […]
The music on this disc is all richly textured and immensely rewarding. […]
The simple colour of the lines, with a mix of singers and brass, is significantly different and Ingegneri’s rich textures come out as highly appealing and wonderfully all enveloping. This is sober, finely serious music suitable to a solemn sacred occasion, yet finely imaginative too. […]
[The motets] are glorious pieces and it is puzzling that they have remained unknown for such a long time. […]
The disc ends with a pair of motets which are especially striking. Ave Verum Corpus, with its lovely long lines and intersecting choirs, then Hodie assumpta est Maria where Ingegneri uses nine voices (the nine ranks of angels welcoming the Virgin into heaven) to stunning effect.’
—Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill