Product Description

Discover the haunting and atmospheric music that resonated through medieval Moscow, Krakow and Prague. The Rose Ensemble's third recording features music from medieval and Renaissance Poland and Czechoslovakia, including motets from the Prague manuscript Codex Specialnik and several lovely spiritual songs extolling the virtues of various Slavic saints and heroes.

Track Listing

1. O Beate Stanislae
2. Beata Es Virgo
3. Nobis Est Natus Hodie
4. In Natali Domini
5. Beatus Adalbertus
6. Per Merita Sancti Adalberti
7. Alme Presul Et Beate
8. Poslan Jest Od Boha Andel
9. Magnifcat
10. Dies Est Laetitiae
11. Stala Se Jest Vec Divna
12. De Nativitate Domino
13. Hospodine, Pomiluj Ny
14. Pisen O Koncilu Kostnickem
15. Primo Tempore
16. Svaty Vaclave
17. Dulce Melos
18. Salve Pater Optime
19. Decet Huius Cunctis Horis

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83425 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-01
• Number of discs: 1

Review
A revelation. --Early Music America magazine

About the Artist
Founded in 1996 by artistic director Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble has enjoyed a prestigious artist residency at The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis since 1997. The ensemble maintains an active schedule filled with both performances and educational programs, having served in residence with such institutions as the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, St. Olaf College and St. John’s University. Called “young and daring,” The Rose Ensemble’s musicians have received critical acclaim for their ability to sing in both choral and solo settings, while director Jordan Sramek has been lauded for his innovative programming. The Rose Ensemble is a 2000 & 2001 MN Music Awards nominee for Best Classical Artist.

Customer Reviews

Slavic Holiday Fine Contribution to Early Music
It's about time someone turned their attention to the wealth of music from early Eastern Europe. This disc captures so many things: breathtaking motets from the Prague manuscript Codex Specialnik, Polish Renaissance motets (with an obvious Italian influence), lusty songs to various saints and heroes (some sounding more like folk music than the typical "sacred" sound), and gorgeous spiritual songs reminiscent of the likes of Hildegard von Bingen. This may seem like a Christmas disc, but I know I'll be enjoying it all year long.

Stellar performances of unknown works
I was privileged to get a free ticket to hear The Rose Ensemble, performing this CD program in a local chapel. We rarely value what we don't have to pay for, but in this case, I was so glad I decided to use the ticket. This small ensemble (many pieces are done one-to-a-voice) has the finest tuning, the finest blending, and the most joy in their voices of any choir I've ever heard. They use very few instruments, just a viol during one piece, certainly nothing that interrupts the flow of the choral sound.

Now to tell the truth I really didn't think I'd like this repertoire. Usually when I buy a CD, it's because I know one or two of the pieces and am willing to take a gamble that the rest of the pieces are similar enough that I'll like them, too. I wasn't familiar with anything on this CD. Bet you anything NO ONE knows the repertoire on this CD--it seems to be mostly little-known pieces, and they span some 500+ years of history and various geographical areas within eastern Europe.

I find it interesting, though, that these pieces solidly echo the more westerly music of the respective time periods. You hear chant-like duets, tripartite motets, strophic religious poetry set to homophonic and polyphonic music, etc.--pretty much what you would have heard in England, France, or other western European areas in the same time periods. Does it really matter whether it's in Latin or Czech (and both are used, anyway)? If you like medieval and Renaissance sacred music in general, you won't dislike this material--and may even find a few favorites.

If you don't, who cares? The sheer sound of this beautiful ensemble is a joy to hear: fabulous holiday background music, wonderful wind-down relaxation music, and for those with a discriminating choral ear--flawless choral music.