Johannes Ockeghem's soul must have been amply saved in the meantime, because his Requiem is regularly performed and recorded. The recording that living legend Paul Hillier has recorded here on CD, however, immediately stands out. Unfortunately, this is not due to the execution or interpretation: it is fine, but somewhat flat and therefore certainly not memorable. (This is in contrast to the recording
… he made in 1984 with his Hilliard Ensemble, see DBX0446.) The special thing about this recording is due to the context in which Ockeghem's masterpiece is placed. The Danish composer Bent Sørensen was commissioned to supplement this work with new compositions, and he has done so in an impressive way. Clearly following the typical long lines of Ockeghem, his music sounds old and modern at the same time. All this is also combined with Gregorian chants. However, Sørensen has managed to create a wonderful unity with all these elements, which is convincingly presented here by Paul Hillier and Ars Nova Copenhagen. (TC)more
