Although the CD catalog doesn’t reflect Cristóbal de Morales’ deserving position among the greatest Renaissance composers–only a handful of discs are devoted to his music–this first-rate recording makes an important contribution not only for its exceptional performances, but in its thoughtful programming. The 15 voices of The Brabant Ensemble are effectively used in these 10 works that vary from four to six parts, and the ambience of Oxford’s Merton College Chapel proves an ideal setting. Equally compelling is Stephen Rice’s choice of repertoire, which offers a fair representation of Morales’ style and output (excluding his Masses) while filling gaps in the catalog with several superb works that are rarely if ever recorded, including the six-voice Regina caeli laetare, Spem in alium, and the Magnificat primi toni.
There are numerous stylistic characteristics of Morales’ music, but some of his more affecting and memorable works are notable for expansive swaths of polyphony where cadences are delayed for pages while lovely strands of melody emerge and disappear into the texture only to resurface in another voice-part. Indeed this–and in his sometimes startling use of dissonances–is where he is most closely compared to his contemporary Nicolas Gombert and can best be enjoyed here in the gorgeous setting of Spem in alium, a masterpiece that deserves wider attention (notice the marvelous false-relation at the end!). Other highlights include the vibrant Regina caeli (another piece that demands immediate replay!) and the Magnificat, with its truly magnificent ending, a perfect conclusion to a first-class program. Essential. [10/8/2008]
