Podcasts

We start the programme with a series of hymns included in the first publication which Tomás Luis de Victoria made in 1581 in Rome: Ave maris stella, Aurea luce et decor, Lauda mater ecclesia and Christe redemptor omnium. As a great work we could listen to the impressive Mass Papae Marcelli by one of the characters whom Victoria met in his roman tour: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, one of the best considered composers at the time. We close this edition with the Magnificat quinti toni from the second book which Victoria published in 1581: Cantica Beata Virginis.

We keep on in the first book of masses, psalms, magnificats and Ave Marias by Victoria published by Gardano’s venetian printings in 1576. We will listen to Magníficat primi toni for 8 voices, Salve Regina in 6 voices, Nigra sum sed formosa,l Magníficat octavi toni in 3, 4, 5 and 6 voices and, as the principal piece, Mass Gaudeamus, based on the motet Jubilate Deo omnis terra by Cristóbal de Morales, which it was played in a version for three vihuelas as well.

First book of motets from 1572 by Monteverdi Choir, Ensemble Plus Ultra, Pro Cantione Antiqua, Westminster Cathedral’s Choir, Hesperion XX and The Sixteen. We will finish the programme with the first section of the Victorian Orchestra Suite by Pablo Sorozábal and with the reduction made by Giovanni Battista Bovicelli in 1594 of the motet Vadam et circuibo in a version for violin and organ by Emilio Moreno and Leon Berben.

We talked to the Australian musicologist and choir conductor Michael Noone about Tomás Luis de Victoria’s colection recorded with the Ensemble Plus Ultra. It consists of 10 CDs which are being published since 2008 up to 2011, concurring with the fourth centenary of the death of the master from Avila. The liturgical reconstructions, the use of instruments and plain chant in performances and how Victoria’s music was played in his time were some of the topics in the interview.