Taking inspiration from Fray Luis de León, the 16th-century lyric poet and monk, Seldom Sene have selected an enthralling collection of music for their second album. ‘El aire se serena’ – a line from one of Léon’s poems – translates as ‘The air becomes serene’, setting the tone for the beautifully atmospheric music of the album. The Quintet have selected a vast array of secular and sacred works, from the well-known composers De Cabezón and his son Hernando, to the more neglected but at the time equally prolific composers, such as Francisco de Peñalosa and the dance master Fabritio Caroso. Much of the release is dedicated to sacred music, with works such as Josquin’s five-voice motet Inviolata, integra et casta est Maria and Lamentabatur Iacob, written by Josquin’s successor De Morales, who styled himself on the Spanish composer.
This beautifully conceived CD presents music from the Courts and Cathedrals of 16th century Spain. The composers include Cabezon, Geurrero, Penalosa, Vasquez, Morales, Victoria, Milano, Lobo, Torre and Caroso. One of the main practices in 16-th century Spain was the transcription or arrangements of vocal music from the Franco-Flemish School. Masses, motets and madrigals by Gomberg, Josquin and others were transcribed for instrumental ensembles.
Seldom Sene is a recorder ensemble from the Netherlands. The ensemble’s aim is to translate the typical phrasing, blending, flexibility and expression of a vocal ensemble into an instrumental performance, and recreate the sense of Serenity and Brilliance as is described in the CD’s title. Seldom Sene already recorded a successful CD for Brilliant Classics, Taracea BC94871, Gramophone wrote: “commitment, technical versatility, unanimity of ensemble and near-immaculate tuning on display”. Dutch newspaper Early Music Review wrote: “Seldom Sene perceptively exploited a range of contrasting textures, and was the only ensemble of the day whose memorisation of the dots enabled unbridled spontaneity.”
00:00:00 Obras de música para tecla, arpa y vihuela: Inviolata. Jusquin
00:03:54 Missa Dormendo un giorno: Agnus dei III
00:07:39 Durmendo un jorno. Verdelot
00:10:44 Dormend’un giorno a baia
00:13:18 Lamentabatur Jacob in D Minor
06:22:50 Ascendens Christus in altum in G Major
00:27:47 Triste de par. Gombert
00:31:33 Lágrimas de mi consuelo
00:34:13 Alta in D Minor
00:35:19 Il Ballarino: Balletto. Amor mio
00:36:49 Bassadanza: La spagna
00:38:21 Ave regina coelorum
00:41:41 Adoro te, domine
00:44:30 Missa pro defunctis: Lux aeterna
00:47:54 Susana un jur
00:51:14 Riu, riu, chiu
00:52:52 Trahe me post te, virgo Maria
00:58:26 Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Hombres, victoria, Victoria
01:01:57 Inviolata, integra et casta es: I. Prima pars
01:04:33 Inviolata, integra et casta es: II. Secunda pars
01:06:13 Inviolata, integra et casta es: III. Tertia pars
