A trip to McKay's Used Books always turns into a treasure hunt. In an unlabeled cardboard box in the back, I found this gem for a paltry $0.25: a pristine LP of Palestrina's Song of Songs suite recorded by the Prague Madrigal Choir in 1972! Imagine an album of high-Renaissance polyphony going on sale when the Beatles had just broken up, men were still landing on the moon but no one seemed to care anymore, & Don McLean's American Pie topped the charts.
The style is a little heavy on the vibrato - I was taught that that wasn’t yet a thing – but it’s clear this group knew their stuff. Note the lyrical echo found in some Marian hymns (& In Dulci Jubilo!). I've posted a few of my favorite tracks here for your enjoyment, but beware, it gets a little racy!
1. Osculetur Me Osculo Oris Sui
2. Trahe Me Post Te
7. Ecce Tu Pulcher Es
8. Tota Pulchra Es
12. Vox Delicti Mei
13. Surge Amica Mea
14. Dilectus Meus Mihi
15. Surgam Et Circuibo Civitatem
17. Dilectus Meus Descendit
The music, Latin texts, & English (& Dutch!) translations can be found in the Motets section of THIS CPDL page.
The style is a little heavy on the vibrato - I was taught that that wasn’t yet a thing – but it’s clear this group knew their stuff. Note the lyrical echo found in some Marian hymns (& In Dulci Jubilo!). I've posted a few of my favorite tracks here for your enjoyment, but beware, it gets a little racy!
1. Osculetur Me Osculo Oris Sui
2. Trahe Me Post Te
7. Ecce Tu Pulcher Es
8. Tota Pulchra Es
12. Vox Delicti Mei
13. Surge Amica Mea
14. Dilectus Meus Mihi
15. Surgam Et Circuibo Civitatem
17. Dilectus Meus Descendit
The music, Latin texts, & English (& Dutch!) translations can be found in the Motets section of THIS CPDL page.