tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post115617135954946937..comments2024-03-18T05:17:45.683-05:00Comments on <a href="http://ionarts.blogspot.com/">Ionarts</a>: Monteverdi's MadrigalsCharles T. Downeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978821617871429169noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1165082923878392342006-12-02T13:08:00.000-05:002006-12-02T13:08:00.000-05:00Strongly echo akimon re La Venexiana. I'd add tha...Strongly echo akimon re La Venexiana. I'd add that they're an interesting contrast to Alessandrini's approach, which is highly dramatic to the point of being grating (in CM Bks. 5 & 6). La Venexiana strongly emphasizes smooth vocal blend, with its countertenor, in particular, serving as a bridge between the female and other male voices. Glossa's recording quality is excellent, too (as is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1157396186810605182006-09-04T13:56:00.000-05:002006-09-04T13:56:00.000-05:00Monika, the difficulty of the score probably has s...Monika, the difficulty of the score probably has something to do with it. Those chromatic shifts take intonational acumen. Also, I think that unfamiliarity with so much music of the (especially early) Renaissance is at fault. As long as choirs only sing John Rutter arrangements, someone like Gesualdo has little hope of making a mark. Let's not even talk about how little the Mass settings of Charles T. Downeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978821617871429169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1157228032230335402006-09-02T15:13:00.000-05:002006-09-02T15:13:00.000-05:00The work that first drew me to Gesualdo was the Te...The work that first drew me to Gesualdo was the Tenebrae (Saturday ones, in the Harmonia Mundi recording with Herreweghe), and I graduated to madrigals from there. I really hope to at least hear one of the Gesualdo's settings of Tenebrae, or perform in it, which would be a blast, before I go. Along with Couperin's Tenebrae, these are among my most beloved pieces of music. They all seem often Akimon Azukihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18423660934565590684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1157150624599823442006-09-01T17:43:00.000-05:002006-09-01T17:43:00.000-05:00Actually, I was not saying there was only 3 and 8,...Actually, I was not saying there was only 3 and 8, but that I had found those in addition to the ones you mentioned. It's more than halfway to a full set.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of Gesualdo, do you know any of his sacred music? We sang a Lenten motet of his this past spring, and it was great fun to sing.Charles T. Downeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978821617871429169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1157067691609826812006-08-31T18:41:00.000-05:002006-08-31T18:41:00.000-05:00They are definitely cherry picking- I have watched...They are definitely cherry picking- I have watched them over the years and it seems they like to record one book by Mad Carlo, then move on to Monteverdi and others. There is no whole set of Monteverdi that I know of, but there are definitely more than two Books available. Some are listed here:<BR/>http://www.glossamusic.com/artists/lavenexiana.htm<BR/>and US stores-wise, ArkivMusic has a good Akimon Azukihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18423660934565590684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1157066088080163242006-08-31T18:14:00.000-05:002006-08-31T18:14:00.000-05:00I should clarify. You mention Books 2, 6, 7, and 9...I should clarify. You mention Books 2, 6, 7, and 9. I found Amazon listings for Books 3 and 8 released in recent years. I'm wondering if they have actually recorded the whole set. They apparently have plans to do so if they have not done it yet.<BR/><BR/>Also, I will start looking for their Marenzio discs. That's another great madrigal composer.Charles T. Downeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978821617871429169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1157065587798499832006-08-31T18:06:00.000-05:002006-08-31T18:06:00.000-05:00Monika, thanks for the nice comments. I know the n...Monika, thanks for the nice comments. I know the name of La Venexiana, but I confess that I have not heard any of their recordings. Have they released a full set of the Monteverdi books? I found several of them. I'll put them on my "look for" list.Charles T. Downeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978821617871429169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1157054451586435002006-08-31T15:00:00.000-05:002006-08-31T15:00:00.000-05:00This is a great compendium of Monteverdi releases-...This is a great compendium of Monteverdi releases- I have been planning to finally get started on Monteverdi's madrigals, after my two decades of Gesualdo infatuation it's time to branch out, and this write up will come in very handy. However, I can't resist plugging my favourite group that actually specializes in madrigals: La Venexiana, led by countertenor Claudio Cavina. Glossa label has Akimon Azukihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18423660934565590684noreply@blogger.com