It is obscure repertoire that the idiosyncratic Björn Schmelzer brings together on this CD. Gregorian melodies, composed in the thirteenth century, presumably by a certain Pierre de Cambrai can be heard. The music is intended for the hours (the office) for Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231). There are no complete liturgical celebrations on this CD, it is a choice of pieces for the vespers (the
… prayer service for the afternoon) and the matins (the prayer service for the middle of the night). For people who are not familiar with this ensemble: the interpretation that Schmelzer offers is very experimental. This is already apparent when you try to read the sung lyrics: an interesting challenge. The musical notes of one work are also shown in the manuscript, so for those who can read notes, it is also possible to determine how much freedom Schmelzer takes. (It seems that the first part of the melody is sung extremely slowly by the basses, while the other singers improvise freely above it.) You have to be open to this interpretation and to Schmelzer's thorough explanation in the booklet, it is certainly boring. not. (TC)more
