Graindelavoix & Björn Schmelzer - Ex Nihilo: Polyphony Out of the Order of Things (2024) [Hi-Res]

On their newest recording for Glossa, Graindelavoix and Bjorn Schmelzer present a fascinating array of Renaissance motets based on the theological concept of creatio ex nihilo, creation out of nothing, as exemplifed in the mystery of the Incarnation, the idea of God becoming a man.

Well- known pieces like Josquin Desprez's Praeter rerum seriem are combined with less famous works by the same composer, and very fne contributions by Obrecht, Ockeghem, Ribera and Wert.

Bjorn Schmelzer bases his intriguing approach to the performance of these pieces on a 1561 quote by the Flemish Protestant pedagogue Johannes Molanus: "[Mensural polyphony] is a singing without sense or content, in which the voices are resounding emptily in so-called proses, motets, and artifcial songs in foreign languages, ornamented for the delectation of the ears, which have no meaning that could be understood even by the singers themselves."

And Schmelzer himself adds: "Polyphony owes its existence to the bizarre articulation of a voidn, aarticulation that is itself void of content and meaning. [...] In no way polyphony improves intelligibility orcontributes to a greater understandnig of the liturgical texts, having in fact the reverse effect..."

This 19th album of Graindelavoix on Glossa will for sure please the ensemble's ever- increasing base of followers, and again constitutes a groundbreaking contribution to intelligent and exciting performance of ancient repertory.