Libera nos: The Cry of the Oppressed

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The ‘reconstitution’ of Tallis Libera nos as a brief choral work is very effective and the inclusion of the rich music of the 17th-century recusant Peerson is a welcome revelation… The singing... — Early Music Review, December 2013 More…

Release Date: 1st Jul 2013
Catalogue No: SIGCD338
Label: Signum
Length: 69 minutes

Gramophone Awards

2014

Shortlisted - Early Music

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Byrd: Civitas Sancti Tui

Work length5:01

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Tallis: Libera nos

Work length2:07

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Monte, P: Super flumina Babylonis

Work length5:41

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Byrd: Quomodo cantabimus

Work length8:37

$1.50

$2.10

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Cardoso, M: Sitivit anima mea

Work length4:22

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Peerson: Laboravi in gemitu meo

Work length5:28

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Byrd: Miserere mei

Work length3:20

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Cristo: Lachrimans sitivit anima mea

Work length5:53

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Byrd: Plorans plorabit

Work length5:06

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Tallis: In ieiunio et fletu

Work length4:54

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Tallis: Salvator mundi

Work length2:50

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Cristo: Inter vestibulum

Work length2:32

$1.00

$1.40

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

Byrd: Infelix ego

Work length13:34

$2.00

$2.80

Contrapunctus
Owen Rees

About
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About

Coupling powerful interpretations with path-breaking scholarship, the choir Contrapunctus presents music by the best-known composers as well as unfamiliar masterpieces. Directed by Owen Rees, a specialist in music of the 16th and 17 centuries, the group presents imaginative programmes revealing previously undiscovered musical treasures and throwing new light on familiar works.

This recording explores the musical 'cries of the oppressed' from opposite ends of Europe, which include some of the most powerful works composed in England and Portugal during this period by Byrd, Tallis, de Monte and Cardoso. The highlight perhaps is the first recording of a newly reconstructed vocal work by Thomas Tallis, 'Libera nos'. This has long been thought to be an instrumental work, and has been recorded as such, but there's persuasive historical evidence for us to be confident that this is in fact a choral setting of the antiphon 'Libera nos', and it is performed here with the relevant text restored to the five vocal parts.

Reviews

Early Music Review December 2013

The ‘reconstitution’ of Tallis Libera nos as a brief choral work is very effective and the inclusion of the rich music of the 17th-century recusant Peerson is a welcome revelation… The singing of caprapunctus is very beautiful through-out and, essentially for this impassioned repertoire highly expressive and powerful.

November 2013

The familiarity of Contrapunctus with this repertoire will come as little surprise. There is considerable security and confidence in their interpretations...A recital better dipped into than taken in at a sitting; but, at its best, intriguing and rewarding on its own terms.

November 2013

The results are impressive indeed… The three Portuguese works, by Cardoso and Pedro de Cristo, provide very interesting company for the English pieces not only for thematic reasons but for their stylistic differences and similarities… The sound of the ensemble is in general rounded and well blended… The choir’s sound is beautifully captured by Signum’s teams.

12th November 2013

Contrapunctus was founded in 2010 and this is their first disc. They could hardly have made a better debut. The singing is superb: the voices are beautiful and their blending is perfect, without ever losing their individual character...The texts may not spread happiness but the singing can hardly fail to please.

4th August 2013

This debut recording by the clean-voiced and agile Contrapunctus ensemble includes a genuine discovery, perhaps expected when scholar/conductor Owen Rees is in charge...More, please.

17th August 2013

Anguished masterpieces are juxtaposed with discoveries, including a convincing new vocal version of Tallis’s (hitherto instrumental) Libera nos. Pristine performances by Owen Rees’s Contrapunctus choir, with a slightly odd bass-voice prominence

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