CD Review | Ensemble ArtChoral — Art Choral, Vol. 1: Renaissance

Ensemble ArtChoral’s newest installation to its collection spanning the history of choral singing returns to the origins of polyphony in Art Choral, Vol. 1: Renaissance. Under the direction of Matthias Maute, the ensemble performs early choral repertoire by composers from across Europe, including Cristóbal de Morales, Josquin des Prés, and William Byrd, to name a few. The album opens with No. 5, Adoramus te, Christe from Palestrina’s Recueil des morceaux de musique ancienne.

Given Palestrina’s role in creating polyphonic technique, ArtChoral’s expert use of the push and pull of each voice helps the opener to act as a fitting tribute to the origins of the Renaissance style. William Byrd’s Sing Joyfully to God acts as a colourful contrast to many of the more solemn works on the album. Its opening fifth motif is carried well throughout the piece, being instantly recognizable in each voice. When the music provides moments of unison, the choir blends well. Overall, Art Choral succeeded here in showing a truly joyful side of Renaissance music. 

A personal favourite of mine, Josquin des Prés’s Mille regretz is approached with a gorgeous sensitivity that does not sacrifice the fullness of the sound. Its melodies trend downward, often resolving on a much quieter chord from which they opened. Sorrow and loss are expertly conveyed by the singers here, showing their true grasp of emotion—often difficult to achieve in early music. This album offers a thorough survey of Renaissance music, demonstrating the sheer variety of a period often mistaken for producing only formulaic works.