The Brabant Ensemble once again manages to put the rarely heard repertoire in the spotlight on this CD. In fact, none of the works have been recorded before. The composers Johannes Lupi and Lupus Hellinck lived in the first half of the 16th century. They were active in the Low Countries; Lupi worked for the Cathedral of Kamerijk, Hellinck lived in Bruges. Lupi died in 1539 at about the age of 33,
… Hellinck was not much older when he died in 1541, at about 47 years old. The space on this CD is divided between these two composers. Central is a Mass by Hellinck and a special Te Deum by Lupi. The Te Deum is one of the oldest Christian hymns and was created around the year 400. Despite this, the text was used very little by composers in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. And if a composer put this text to music, he just left parts of it in their Gregorian melody. What is special about Lupi's piece is that he has put almost all the text in polyphony. This produces an enormous work of 18 minutes - also remarkable: in the Renaissance there are few one-part compositions that are that long. Hellinck's Missa Surrexit Pastor is remarkably light and radiant in tone, and also very varied in design. It goes without saying that the Brabant Ensemble performs this music beautifully as always. Another asset to their impressive discography! (TC) Hellinck's Missa Surrexit Pastor is remarkably light and radiant in tone, and also very varied in design. It goes without saying that the Brabant Ensemble performs this music beautifully as always. Another asset to their impressive discography! (TC) Hellinck's Missa Surrexit Pastor is remarkably light and radiant in tone, and also very varied in design. It goes without saying that the Brabant Ensemble performs this music beautifully as always. Another asset to their impressive discography! (TC)more