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Swallow Tales

Swallow Tales

John Scofield, Steve Swallow, Bill Stewart

Duration53 Min

Album insights

Cipriano de Rore, a distinguished figure in the history of the Madrigal, a secular music genre dominating Italy's music culture in the latter half of the 16th century, was born in Ronse, situated on the Flemish-French language border in present-day Belgium. Rore fused the complexity of Dutch polyphonic style with Italian poetry to create a new expressive genre in the vernacular. The evolution of Madrigals during the century, largely due to Rore's innovations, shifted the focus from counterpoint to emphasizing text expression in clearer, more homophonic structures that were eventually monodically recited.

Rore's prominence in secular music, particularly in Madrigal composition, underpins the necessity of exploring his contributions in the introduction to a CD featuring sacred music. This recording introduces lesser-known aspects of a composer renowned in other musical spheres. Notably, his influence on sacred music performances during his lifetime was significant. Contrasting his musical style with that of his contemporary Jacobus Clemens non Papa highlights distinct structural differences in their compositions.

Rore's musical career unfolded entirely in Italy, commencing officially in 1542 in Brescia. His dedication to securing favorable positions at Italian courts is evidenced by numerous dedications to Italian nobility in his works from the 1540s. His tenure as maestro di cappella at the court of Ercole II d'Este in Ferrara for twelve productive years yielded notable compositions, including his Missa Hercules Dux Ferrarie. Subsequent appointments took him to Parma, where he passed away in 1565.

Two Mass settings presented here, Missa a note negre and Missa Doulce mémoire, draw inspiration from French Chansons. Rore skillfully intertwines his melodies with Pierre Regnault’s renowned chanson "Doulce mémoire," infusing recognizable themes into his compositions. The performances reveal Rore's distinctive approach to Mass compositions, characterized by a focus on homophonic text setting. Noteworthy is the intricate polyphony and expressive text declamation in various sections, underscoring Rore's artistry in conveying textual meaning.

The motets O altitudo divitiarum and Fratres: Scitote set texts from St. Paul, exploring themes of divinity and the Last Supper's significance in sacred music. Rore's compositions exhibit a contemplative depth, reflecting his nuanced approach to textual interpretation. Fratres: Scitote, a unique setting of the Last Supper narrative, stands out as a testament to Rore's skill in conveying sacred themes through music.

"Exegetische Reaktion auf den Text" - interpreted as "textual interpretation" in a neutral tone "Euerbe Methoden" - referenced as "vornehmlich für fünf Stimmen komponierten" for clarity