When considering all of the Renaissance music from Western Europe, one risks overlooking the vast repertoire of Eastern European music of the time. This week on Harmonia, we review releases from this less familiar repertoire.
Two eminent composers of the Polish Renaissance, Waclaw of Szamotuly and Marcin Leopolita, are the subject of a new CD by The Polish ensemble Collegium Vocale. Established in 1991 through the inspiration of musicologist Wieslaw Lisecki, Collegium Vocale's release is entitled "Polish Early Music."
"Fragements" is the name of a new CD by the group Theatre of Voices, directed by Paul Hiller. The name of the recording refers not only to fragements of music that have survived from the distant past, but also to the fragmentation of Christianity into Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic traditions in ancient times. The recording contains early music from both East and West: Italy, Greece, Russia, England and France.
Ensemble Anima Mea was founded in 2001 by trumpeter Ute Hartwich, with the purpose of performing music of the 17th and 18th centuries and a focus on lesser-known chamber music for trumpet and strings. Their new CD is entitled "Music der Hofkapelle zu Kremsier" and featured music by a group of Bohemian and German composers who worked at the Kremsier court of the Prince Bishop of Olmuetz, and enthusiastic supporter of the arts.
The music of Bohemian composer Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer was miraculously preserved in the Prague Archive of the Knights of the Cross and therefore survived the destruction of WWII. Ensemble Musica Florea collatorated with the Czech Boy's Choir Boni Pueri and a number of soloists to record Fischer's music for the first time. The CD is appropriately titled "Johann Caspar Ferdiand Fischer, various works," and is released on the Supraphon label.
