The bass Harry van der Kamp had been a Sweelinck enthusiast for decades, thanks to the renowned conductor Jan Boeke. Under his direction he sang for years in the Cappella Amsterdam. It had also bothered Van der Kamp for decades that so few recordings of Sweelinck's vocal oeuvre had been made. Of all 150 psalms that Sweelinck has set polyphonically (unique in music history), only a few dozen have
… ever been recorded. And now the time has finally come: in a special collaboration with the Spanish Glossa label, Van der Kamp brings together the complete vocal work of Sweelinck, with his Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam in the lead role. The first part contains the secular works: chansons, madrigals, 'rimes' and some canons. And if the quality of these three CDs from Part 1 continues, this will be a historic production of international allure. The Gesualdo Consort sounds flawless and inspired, the performance is exemplary, with thorough explanations from musician / musicologist Pieter Dirksen and historian Henk van Nierop, among others. While reading and listening it becomes clear that this 'Sweelinck monument' is more than justified, and is indeed much too late. However, this edition is entirely in Dutch: an international version will follow later. (TC) an international version will follow later. (TC) an international version will follow later. (TC)more
