Handel - Carmelite Vespers (1707) - Parrott, The Taverner Players

Handel - Carmelite Vespers (1707) - Parrott,
The Taverner Players 2 CD (FLAC)
Religious | Eac, flac, cue | log, cover | 2 CD, 405 MB
June 8, 1999 | Virgin Veritas | FileFactory

His own Lutheranism notwithstanding, Handel wrote some remarkable music for the Catholic liturgy while in Rome as a young man. In our era they've been performed in the concert hall--large-scale, multi-movement pieces such as the robust Dixit Dominus and the gracious Nisi Dominus in particular coming across as miniature oratorios. But they were, in fact, church music--as Andrew Parrott reminds us with this speculative reconstruction of a lavish 1707 Vespers service for which the young Handel provided music. The performance by Parrott and his Taverner groups is exhilarating. The Dixit Dominus in particular packs a real wallop. The contralto, tenor, and bass soloists do excellent work with their limited music, but Handel was obviously writing for star soprano castrati, and the real stars here are Parrott's three (female) soprano soloists. Jill Feldman wasn't in her best voice for this recording: her louder moments can sound a bit strained, but her softer singing is truly lovely and she rips through some forbidding coloratura. Emma Kirkby is, of course, a delight in Laudate pueri, and Emily van Evera sings superbly--her timing in the solemn opening and closing bars of the Salve Regina will have you on the edge of your seat. --Matthew Westphal

Performer:
David Evan Thomas, Margaret Cable, Joseph Cornwell, Jill Feldman, Emma Kirkby
Andrew Parrott, Taverner Consort Choir, Taverner Consort Players

Andrew Parrott is an English conductor especially well known for his part in the early music movement, but also as a conductor of general repertory with an emphasis on modern music. At Oxford University he studied research methods into early music performance practices, specializing in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He became a musical assistant to composer Sir Michael Tippett, himself one of the earliest British music figures of the twentieth century to develop a strong interest in Renaissance English music. Tippett was associated with the Bath Festivals and suggested that Parrott form a choir for Renaissance music performance at the 1973 festival. Following Tippett's suggestion, Parrott organized The Taverner Choir, named after John Taverner (ca. 1490-1545), a leading English composer of that era. The choir was a success, becoming an independent ensemble of its own. Subsequently, Parrott organized the Taverner Players and the Taverner Consort with the same musical emphasis. The Players or Consort often appear with the choir.

Parrott and the Taverner groups have built one of the leading reputations in Baroque and pre-Baroque music. They appeared at the 1977 Promenade Concerts in London in Monteverdi's Vespers and were the first to give a period instruments performance in London of Bach's Mass in B minor.

Parrott's career includes substantial work researching, writing, and lecturing on early music. His The Essential Bach Choir was published in 2000, and he was co-editor of the New Oxford Book of Carols. His activities also include a substantial amount of performing later repertory and has expanded to a sizeable involvement in opera. He has appeared with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and has a close relationship with the Slovak Philharmonic and the Residentie Orchestra of The Hague. In 1989 he became artistic director of the Kent Opera and has conducted at La Scala, the Royal Swedish Opera at Drottningholm, and the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, London. He is an active conductor of modern music, including works of Tippett, Tavener, Nono, Varèse, Britten, and Stravinsky, and premiered Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera. In 2000, he was named musical director and principal conductor of the London Mozart Players and in 2002 took on the same positions with the New York Collegium.

Before becoming an exclusive Sony Classics artist, Parrott recorded on the L'Oiseau-Lyre and Hyperion labels and on the EMI Reflexe and Virgin Veritas labels.


CD 1 Tracks:
01 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 01. Deus In ADJutorium Meum Intende (00:42)
02 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 02. Antiphon I, Pulchra Es Et Decora, Psalm I, Dixit Dominus (00:35)
03 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 03. Dixit Dominus Domino Meo (05:19)
04 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 04. Virgam Virtutis Tuae (02:31)
05 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 05. Tecum Principium (03:01)
06 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 06. Juravit Dominus (02:16)
07 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 07. Tu Es Sacerdos (01:39)
08 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 08. Dominus A Dextris Tuis (06:27)
09 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 09. De Torrente (03:14)
10 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 10. Gloria Patri (06:16)
11 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 11. Antiphon I, Pulchra Es Et Decora (00:26)
12 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 12. Antiphon II, Sicut Myrrha Electa, Psalm II, Laudate Pueri (00:29)
13 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 13. Laudate, Pueri, Dominum (03:23)
14 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 14. Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum (02:08)
15 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 15. A Solis Ortu (01:28)
16 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 16. Excelsus Super Omnes Gentes Dominus (02:11)
17 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 17. Quis Sicut Dominus Deus Noster (01:23)
18 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 18. Suscitans A Terra Inopem (02:20)
19 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 19. Qui Habitare Facit Sterilem In Domo (01:58)
20 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 20. Gloria Patri (03:20)
21 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 21. Antiphon II, Sicut Myrrha Electa (00:23)
22 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 22. Antiphon III, In Odorem (00:23)
23 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 23. Psalm III, Laetatus Sum (02:19)
24 - Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - 24. Te Decus Virgineum (02:58)


CD 2 Tracks:
01 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Benedicta Filia Tua Domino; Nisi Dominus (00:33)
02 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Nisi Dominus (02:07)
03 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Vanum Est Vobis (01:58)
04 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Cum Dederit Dilectis Suis Somnum (01:28)
05 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Sicut Sagittae In Manu Potentis (01:13)
06 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Beatus Vir (02:31)
07 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Gloria Patri (02:25)
08 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Benedicta Filia Tua Domino (00:25)
09 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Speciosa Facta Es (00:26)
10 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Lauda Jerusalem Dominum; Haec Est Regina Virginum (02:19)
11 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Haec Est Regina Virginum (03:08)
12 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Ego Quasi Vitis (00:39)
13 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Christi Virgo Dilectissima (02:39)
14 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Ave Maris Stella (02:44)
15 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Ora Pro Nobis (00:17)
16 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Alma Redemptoris Mater (01:53)
17 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum (03:27)
18 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Saeviat Tellus Inter Rigores (06:15)
19 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Carmelitarum Ut Confirmet Ordinem (00:39)
20 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - O Nox Dulcis (05:47)
21 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Stellae Fidae (03:06)
22 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Sub Tantae Virginis Tutela (00:25)
23 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Alleluia (02:11)
24 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Dominus Vobiscum (01:06)
25 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Benedicamus Domino; Salve Regina (00:36)
26 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Salve Regina: Salve Regina, Mater Misericordiae (02:57)
27 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Salve Regina: Ad Te Clamamus (03:07)
28 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Salve Regina: Eia Ergo, Advocata Nostra (03:59)
29 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Salve Regina: O Clemens (01:33)
30 - Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Etc.; Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort & Players - Handel: Carmelite Vespers - Salve Regina: Ora Pro Nobis (01:16)

The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites

The charism, or spiritual focus, of the Carmelite Order is contemplative prayer. The Order is considered by the Church to be under the special protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and thus has a strong Marian devotion. As in most of the orders dating to medieval times, the First Order is the friars (who are active/contemplative), the Second Order is the nuns (who are cloistered) and the Third Order consists of laypeople who continue to live in the world, and can be married, but participate in the charism of the order by liturgical prayers, apostolates (ministries), and contemplative prayer. There are also offshoots such as active Carmelite sisters.

Carmelite tradition traces the origin of the order to a community of hermits on Mount Carmel that succeeded the schools of the prophets in ancient Israel, although there are no certain records of hermits on this mountain before the 1190s. By this date a group of men had gathered at the well of Elijah on Mount Carmel. These men, who had gone to Palestine from Europe either as pilgrims or as crusaders, chose Mount Carmel in part because it was the traditional home of Elijah. It was natural that this community of Eastern hermits in the Holy Land should gain constant accessions from pilgrims, and between 1206 and 1214 they received a rule from the patriarch and Papal legate Albert of Jerusalem. The foundation was named the Stella Maris Monastery, in honour of the Virgin Mary in her aspect of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, (Latin: Stella Maris). The abbey was destroyed several times, but a refounded monastery still exists at the site.

The original Carmelite Rule of St. Albert addresses a Prior whose name is only listed as "B." When later required to name their founders, the Brothers referred to both Elijah and the Blessed Virgin as early models of the community. Later, under pressure from other European Mendicant orders to be more specific, the name "Saint Bertold" was given, possibly drawn from the oral tradition of the Order.

The rule consisted of sixteen articles, which enjoined strict obedience to their prior, residence in individual cells, constancy in prayer, the hearing of Mass every morning in the oratory of the community, vows of poverty and toil, daily silence from vespers until terce the next morning, abstinence from all forms of meat except in cases of severe illness, and fasting from Holy Cross Day (September 14) until the Easter of the following year.