Herald AV Publications

HAVPCD351 – COEPERUNT LOQUI

	Disk Title	COEPERUNT LOQUI
		Cheltenham College Chamber Choir – Lassus, Tallis, Sheppard, Phillips & Praetorius
	Choir	Cheltenham College Chamber Choir
	Conductor	Alexander Ffinch
	Location	Cheltenham College Chapel
	Date Recorded	25th – 28th May 2009
	Audio Tracks	12

This survey of late Renaissance polyphony is particularly representative of the Venetian polychoral style developed in the Basilica of San Marco in the latter half of the sixteenth century but employed by composers all over Europe. An important characteristic of this is the cori spezzati or divided choirs, where various groups of singers and instrumentalists were so placed as to answer one another or pass phrases and lines not only from part to part but from group to group, a dramatic spatial development. One of the finest and most prolific composers of the period, Orlando di Lassus, was born at Mons, Hainaut in 1532. Following a series of prestigious posts in Italy and Antwerp, in 1556 he entered the service of Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria in Munich. The initial appointment was as a tenor in the chapel choir but he was soon promoted to maestro di capella, a post he retained for over thirty years until his death, being succeeded in turn by his two sons. Here he produced an enormous quantity of church music, including many motets, four passions and some sixty mass settings. Many of these are ‘parody’ masses, based on secular material such as chansons or madrigals or on motets written by himself or others, frequently including florid and intricate counterpoint handled with great skill. In contrast, the masses founded on plainsong are more typically concise, syllabic and straightforward and although not characteristic of the composer at his most sublime, they possess a coolly austere beauty. The four-voice Missa Venatorum or ‘Jäger’ Mass of 1577 is founded on the eighth plainsong tone. Although by no means cursory, it is certainly the shortest of the composer’s Masses and was intended for a nominal service on days that the court went hunting. The succinct Gloria is largely homophonic and is over almost before it begins; the Sanctus promises more but is quickly reined in; the flowing imitation of the Benedictus is reduced to two parts only.

Alexander Ffinch, the College Organist, founded the Cheltenham College Chamber Choir in 2007. Established with the clear purpose of performing demanding unaccompanied music, the Chamber Choir has rapidly gained a reputation as an excellent choir, with a distinctive repertoire. Having performed at Winchester Cathedral, and various Oxbridge Colleges, this CD, the Choir’s first release, comes on the back of a very successful tour to New York. Since its foundation, the choir has rehearsed and sung a variety of choral pieces, ranging from the 16th Century up to the modern works of John Tavener and Arvo Pärt. Whilst enjoying the range of pieces, the choir has felt an especial affinity with the music of the Renaissance. This is dynamic and powerful, reflecting the enormous creative energy across Europe that was present at the time.

Alexander Ffinch studied at the Royal College of Music and was later organ scholar of Keble College, Oxford where he subsequently became a pupil of Thomas Trotter. He was resident organist at Lancaster Town Hall where he gave over 100 recitals in the 1990’s also winning recognition in the St Albans Interpretation Competition in 1999. He performed regularly in the UK, Europe and the USA and is a wellknown international recitalist. Notable recent appearances have been in USA at Christ Church Greenville and St Mark’s Berkeley, CA and also in the Far East where he gave a recital to celebrate the Messiaen Centenary at The Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong. In 2009 he was organist on the newly released disc, ‘Salve Puerule’ (HAVPCD349) a collection of Christmas choral music. Recent recital engagements have included: The Cathedral of St John The Divine, New York; Westminster Abbey; and in 2010, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. He was appointed College Organist of Cheltenham College in 2004, after a three-year tenure as Director of Music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and established the College Chamber Choir in 2007. The first choral disc under his direction Videte (PRCD 727), received glowing reviews in Gramophone and Organists Review… “In a time when excellence is a buzz word in education, the term is exemplified by both the music found on this disc and the quality of the performances.”(available at www.caths.cam.ac.uk) …and the disc also featured on Radio 3. In July 2009 he directed the Cheltenham College Chamber Choir on its first tour to New York and at the opening of the Cheltenham International Music Festival.