CD: Music for the Sforza Court

Pre-order by February 20, 2019

$15

The Duchy of Milan in the late 15th century was a lively place. Ruled by the Sforza family, a particularly artistic and competitive dynasty, the court expanded to include what turned out to be one of the most talented musical chapels in Europe at the time. Under Sforza patronage, singers and composers like Alexander Agricola, Johannes Martini, Loyset Compère, and Josquin des Prez were given freedom to experiment. Together, they composed numerous works and even developed a new style of the mass ordinary called motetti missalles in which  collections of motets which were substituted for regular mass parts - Kyrie, Gloria, etc. The music was often inspired by popular pieces of the day and the subject matter was devotional, honoring the Virgin Mary or some other object that pleased the family. One of these motetti missalles is the centerpiece to our recording, surrounded by other works that were produced in this prolific environment.

TRACKS

COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 1. Introit: Ave virgo gloria
COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 2. Loco Gloria: Ave salus infirmorum
COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 3. Loco Credo: Ave decus Virginale
COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 4. Loco Offertorii: Ave sponsa verbi
COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 5. Loco Sanctus: O Maria!
COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 6. Ad Elevationem: Adoramus te, Christe
COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 7. Loco Agnus: Salve, mater salvatoris
COMPERE Missa Galeazescha 8. Loco Deo Gratias: Virginis Mariae laudes
MARTINI Magnificat secundi toni
WEERBEKE Stabat Mater
JOSQUIN Stabat Mater
AGRICOLA Regina coeli laetare
AGRICOLA Nobis Sancti Spiritus
JOSQUIN Qui habitat

BYRD INTERNATIONAL SINGERS, directed by Markdavin Obenza

Soprano
Laura Abbott
Dawn Fosse Cook
Lauren Kastanas
Anastasia Shmytova
Karlie Traversa

Alto
Pamela Chang
Natalie Manning
Anne Roberts
Vera Slasnaya

Tenor
Jacob Buys
Richard Greene
Jim Howeth
Arvind Narayanan
Jason Tong

Bass
Doug Fullington
Connor Hartling
John Lee
Andrew Payne
Patrick Rice