Le Concert Spirituel & Herve Niquet – Benevolo: Missa si Deus pro nobis & Magnificat (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Le Concert Spirituel & Herve Niquet – Benevolo: Missa si Deus pro nobis & Magnificat (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:03:50 minutes | 1,06 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Alpha Classics

In the 17th century, Roman churches were competing to put on the greatest show to celebrate their patron saints. On these occasions, extraordinary services were performed, where many different artists would be brought together, singers and instrumentalists alike, alongside ordinary musicians, for sumptuous pieces performed by several vocal and instrumental choirs. One contemporary description gives an idea of the scale: ten choirs and ensembles played together, two on fixed stages, and eight others distributed symmetrically right along the nave, on platforms built for the occasion. Every additional stage was provided with a positive organ, while many other instruments added to the sonic splendour. So that all the musicians could play well together in spite of the distance, “capi di coro” or time-keeping drummers, would play in unison. Orazio Benevolo (1605-1672) was one of the most remarkable architects of these extravagant, multi-choral monuments. Benevolo was a choirboy at the Church of St. Louis of the French in Rome before he entered the upper echelons by taking the job of Chapel Master in 1638. The composer has left behind him an abundant set of works, containing no fewer than 34 motets for a range of players, including Regna terrae, written for twelve soprano parts distributed across six vocal choirs, each with its own basso continuo. We are also indebted to him for twelve versions of the Magnificat, for between eight and 24 voices, including one for 16 voices, in quadruple choir, which appears here. Hervé Niquet and his Concert Spirituel have made use of the ample acoustics in the Notre-Dame-du-Liban church in Paris, perfectly structured to hold several choirs distributed across the building, to create the sensations of immersion and spatial plenitude that the composer aimed for.

Tracklist:
1-01. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Aeterna Christi munera et martyrum victorias (01:32)
1-02. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Cantate Domino, SV 293 (01:43)
1-03. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Missa si Deus pro nobis, a 16 voci: I. Kyrie eleison (04:44)
1-04. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Missa si Deus pro nobis, a 16 voci: II. Christe eleison (02:57)
1-05. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Missa si Deus pro nobis, a 16 voci: III. Kyrie eleison II (03:15)
1-06. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Mottetorum I: Beata es, virgo Maria (01:50)
1-07. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Missa si Deus pro nobis, a 16 voci: V. Gloria (08:02)
1-08. Lucia Nigohossian – Ne avertas faciem tuam a puero tuo (01:16)
1-09. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Missa si Deus pro nobis, a 16 voci: VI. Credo (13:48)
1-10. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Canzon vigesimanona, F 8.54 (02:37)
1-11. Benoît Descamps – Missa si Deus pro nobis, a 16 voci: VII. Sanctus (01:46)
1-12. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini (00:48)
1-13. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Regna terrae (03:50)
1-14. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Missa si Deus pro nobis, a 16 voci: VIII. Agnus Dei (04:53)
1-15. Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet – Magnificat a 16 voci (10:40)

Personnel:
Le Concert Spirituel
Hervé Niquet, conductor

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