Weelkes: Gentleman Extraordinary
Resurgam, The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, Mark Duley
Catalogue No: RES10325
Label: Resonus Classics
Described as 'Ireland's premiere project choir' Resurgam's first commercial recording is a splendid programme of music by Thomas Weelkes who celebrates his 400th Anniversary this year. It is also a collaboration with the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble.
Opening with the magnificent Alleluia I heard a voice this is a powerful and confident ensemble with bold lower voices and an attractive treble sheen from the sopranos. Their sound has plenty of room in Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton (Stroud) and their stately tempi often reflect this as they take an overall more festive approach than Jeremy Summerly/ The Oxford Camerata (07/96) incorporating much instrumental grandeur. Mark Duley likes to lean into false relations with relish, and his pacing of the final cadence is particularly thrilling. There's a particularly rich moment as all voices come together on "Salva-ti-on and glory" but funnily enough the repetitions on 'and to the lamb for ever more' are oddly cold compared to Summerly's phrasing.
[...]
To read the full text of this review please visit Gramophone (January 2024)
Comments
Post a Comment