Voices of Connection: 05/03 13th Century English Conductus: O Maria Virgo Pia and Tallis: If Ye Love Me
After the immensity of yesterday’s Ives Psalm 90, I thought it would be nice to go the opposite direction: two very simple, calm and pure pieces. Charlotte Wheeler from our audience requested the Tallis, perhaps the composer’s most-often sung work. It portrays a very tender tranquility – so lovely to listen to! Since it is so short, I decided to add a Medieval piece, 300 years older than the Tallis. It was brought to my attention by the two sopranos who sing it here: Alessandra Visconti and Kathy Theil. These two extraordinary artists sang with the most beautiful timbres for Early Music! They were at the core of all our Renaissance albums of the 1990s, including the Josquin motets heard earlier in this series.
-Dennis Keene
13th CENTURY ENGLISH CONDUCTUS O Maria Virgo Pia
TALLIS If Ye Love Me
Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Alessandra Visconti and Kathy Theil, sopranos
from the Delos recording Beyond Chant ℗ 1994 Delos
The singers in these performances are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.