Orlande De Lassus: Responsories for Holy Week
Around 1580 Lassus composed a four-voice setting of the eighteen Responsories for the second and third Nocturnes of Holy Week, probably intended for the services in the private chapel of his employer, Wilhelm V, Duke of Bavaria. In these miniature dramas Lassus skilfully supports the text, as was then required by the Council of Trent, illustrating the human tragedy of the Easter story with exquisite music that is all the more moving for its restraint.
Ars Cantica
Marco Berrini, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
- Responsories for Maundy Thursday, Second Nocturn: Amicus meus
- Responsories for Maundy Thursday, Second Nocturn: Judas mercator pessimus
- Responsories for Maundy Thursday, Second Nocturn: Unus ex discipulis
- Responsories for Maundy Thursday, Third Nocturn: Eram quasi agnus
- Responsories for Maundy Thursday, Third Nocturn: Una hora
- Responsories for Maundy Thursday, Third Nocturn: Seniores populi
- Responsories for Good Friday, Second Nocturn: Tamquam ad latronem
- Responsories for Good Friday, Second Nocturn: Tenebrae factae sunt
- Responsories for Good Friday, Second Nocturn: Animam meam dilectam
- Responsories for Good Friday, Third Nocturn: Tradiderunt me
- Responsories for Good Friday, Third Nocturn: Jesum tradidit impius
- Responsories for Good Friday, Third Nocturn: Caligaverunt oculi mei
- Responsories for Holy Saturday, Second Nocturn: Recessit pastor noster
- Responsories for Holy Saturday, Second Nocturn: O vos omnes
- Responsories for Holy Saturday, Second Nocturn: Ecce quomodo moritur
- Responsories for Holy Saturday, Third Nocturn: Astiterunt reges terrae
- Responsories for Holy Saturday, Third Nocturn: Aestimatus sum
- Responsories for Holy Saturday, Third Nocturn: Sepulto Domino
FIRST RECORDING OF THE CRITICAL EDITION
MusicWeb International :
‘a good performance will reveal that Lassus’ own settings, despite being more restrained [then Carlo Gesualdo], are uniquely expressive and thus a worthy addition to the Passion repertoire – and these performances are good: the voices blend perfectly, the text is clearly intelligible, and subtle dynamic shading is used to highlight particular elements of the text.
For those who would like to expand their horizons in this area of music for Passiontide, this fine production is not to be missed.’
—Johan van Veen, MusicWeb International