Dale,
so many choices! Anyhow, you mentioned a box set. Well, there's a 5cd box set of Palestrina out on the budget label 'Brilliant Classics'. This is largely, I think, a cd of older recordings re-released, but no worse for that. It contains a good selection of his works, from the well-known Missa Papae Marcelli to the should-be-well known Lamentations. The ASIN number is B00005TS0T and the Amazon page is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product...ssical&
v=glance. The singers are Pro Cantione Antiqua, an English all-male group. The latter fact might be a problem for you, as some dislike the sound, but - for certain of the masses - it's historically accurate and the choir is excellent in any case. Outside of that, there's brilliant recordings by the Tallis Scholars (on their independent Gimell label) and Westminster Cathedral Choir (on Hyperion). I'd particularly mention the Tallis Scholars' recording of the Missa Assumpta est Maria (ASIN B00005ATD
and the Missa Nigra Sum (ASIN B00005ATCS). They also made a recording (their first) of the famous Missa Papae Marcelli, but it seems to be only available as part of a mid-price two disc set (ASIN B0007DBXHO) or their excellent-but-expensive box set (ASIN B0000041M3). Other good recordings of this Mass (and by default, other good choirs) are those by Wilfred Rombach's Ensemble Officium (ASIN B000A1ILU0) and the Oxford Camerata under Jeremy Summerly (ASIN B0000013U7) on Naxos. The former is brilliant and the latter is all right, but (being on the Naxos label) cheap!
As you see there's lots of choice. But I'd just go for the 5 disc Pro Cantione Antiqua box set I mentioned at the start. It's only $25-30 dollars the set (you might find it cheaper outside of Amazon) and, as I said, it's well and expressively sung, with the counterpoint clearly defined. After that you might want to move on to recordings by the Tallis Scholars and Westminster Cathedral choir, who have both recorded Palestrina extensively. After that, there's lots of good Italian choirs making recordings of his Masses these days, but as getting hold of their discs would be even more expensive than the 'expensive' cds I've recommended to you, I'd better not go there! If you're feeling flush though, I'd suggest getting Musica Contexta's recordings of one of Palestrina's complete settings of Holy Week music. It's over 3cds and, while not cheap, can be recommended. Especially as it contains one of the more worthwhile renditions of Palestrina's Stabat Mater.
As I like Messiaen also, I'll throw some recommendations in your direction ... but in a different post!
I am unaware of a Palestrina box set, but you may want to look up two 15-CD box sets of religious and sacred music from Western Europe:
"Credo: 1000 Years of Sacred Music"
"Sanctus: 1000 Years of Sacred Music"
For Palestrina, I also recommend the Cambridge Singers' recording, "Song of Songs" - settings of passages from that book. His creativity is much less restrained with these, as this is religious music (biblically based), not sacred (biblically/liturgically based and intended for worship).
Aumgn:
Wow--ask and you shall receive. Many thanks!
I've heard of the term "flush with cash," but in our household circumstances we usually drop that whole extraneous "with" part.
Aristotle:
Excellent--I will give them a look. 15 CDs might be a bit of a reach, but still very, very intriguing.
Many thanks as well!
I think my favorite of Palestrina's works, in my admittedly limited experience, is his "Mass for Pentecost". There's a recording by the Christ Church Cathedral Choir that is just exquisite - I love the Kyrie especially.
Dale,
The boxed set mentioned my Aumgn is currently on sale at HB Recordings direct for $23.99. I buy from them frequently and their service is excellent. Their web site is www.hbdirect.com. Here is the link.
http://www.hbdirect.com/album_de...l.php?
id=527534
Dale,
I have the Oxford Camerata Palestrina CD which contains two of his Masses. It's excellent and cheap.
There is also the Philips CD "The Best of the Renaissance" that features generous selections from Palestrina, Byrd, Desprez, Tallis, Gesualdo, etc. Not exactly what you're looking for, but wonderful (and cheap).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product...v=glance&
n=5174
One 'mo thing ...
My kids have a special affinity for William Byrd, who appears on the "Best of the Renaissance" CD. As you may know, Byrd was a "papist" -- as opposed to "recusant" -- Catholic during the Elizabethan era. (He remained Catholic but attended the Anglican worship services.) His Masses for 4, 5, and 6 voices were written for small groups of Catholics huddled in secret in recusant homes. Once I explained that story to my children, they were hooked.
Oh, and introduce your little ones to Mozart's Requiem. Its big, bold, beautiful sound will amaze them, especially your boys.
But don't just stay in the West; the Catholic musical tradition is much broader than that. If you want some great Catholic music, get anything you can find by Marie Keyrouz, a nun in one of the Eastern orders(can't remember which). I'm a HUGE fan. Her recordings of Byzantine and Melchite chant will send chills up your spine.
Everybody--many thanks! It's good to see that it won't break the budget.
Chris--I will definitely search her out. I have heard of her before, and now I am very intrigued. Thanks!
I have a fabu boxed set of Henry Purcell's complete sacred music. It's hellish expensive though. I got it for Christmas last year. If you like Palestrina, you'll probably like Purcell, the English version of Pierluigi, (only about a generation later and proddie.)
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