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Antonia Bembo's the Seven Psalms of David Vol. 2
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About Antonia Bembo's The Seven Psalms Of David Vol. 2
Review La Donna Musicale is an American period instrument ensemble specializing in music by women composers. The singing is refreshingly stylish, sensitive and polished, avoiding the shrill and over-coloured style currently favoured by many performers of French baroque music. Among the singers many virtues is a rare mastery of French Baroque ornamentation, including vibrato and the slowly accelerating trill. Likewise, the musicians have a sure command of their instruments colorations. The instrumental pieces by Jacquet de la Guerre, including the delicately rendered harpsichord Prelude in D minor played by Ruth McKay and the sonata in A major played on flute instead of the usual violin, are not new to disc; but these performances stand comparison with the best of their rivals. ...[D]evoted collectors of the French Baroque should not overlook these first rate perfomances of unusually delightful music. --Christopher Price, International Record Review, April 2007 In this second volume of music by Antonia Padoani Bembo (c.1640 c.1720), La Donna Musicale offers the final three settings of seven psalms. These elegant and intriguing arrangements of Elisabeth-Sophie Chéron's poetic texts not only demonstrate the fruits of a major talent in the court of Louis XIV, but also provide a repertory that is excellently suited to the abilities of this fine group of performers. The cycle concludes with Psalm XXXI, Beati quorum remissae sunt iniquitates, a three movement composition that demonstrates the talents of the singers and musicians in the group, with the addition of tenor Aaron Sheehan and bass Frederick Jodry. Jodry's voice adds notable richness to the trio texture Bembo used throughout. Soprano Sherezade Panthaki performs the solo setting of Psalm L, Miserere mei, Deus, secundum, with purity and elegance. Sheehan joins soprano Margaret Hunter for the concluding setting of Psalm XXXVII, Domine, ne infurore. The vocal pairings not only demonstrate the talents of these voices, but also indicate the wealth of ideas Bembo used in these compositions. As in the first volume, the group also includes compositions by Bembo's contemporary Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665 1729). The instrumentalists do laudable justice to the Trio Sonata in D Major. In addition, two works from the composer s Les Pièces de clavessin are performed by keyboardists Ruth McKay (the Prelude in D minor) and Sonia Lee (Prelude in A minor). This recording is a must for listeners. --Denise Gallo , Early Music America, Vol. 12, #2Four stars. This is La Donna Musicale's second album of music by Antonia Padoani Bembo (c.1640 c.1720), a singular figure on several counts. She was part of Louis XIV s retinue and was the protégée of the king and his morganatic wife, Madame de Maintenon. Under the influence of the latter, the court underwent a period of sever and rigorous religious devoutness. These tendencies were also found in Elisabeth-Sophie Chéron's poetic paraphrases of the Psalms of David, which Bembo set to music (Psalms 31, 50 and 37 are included in this recording). It is interesting to observe how this Italian composer presenter herself as more French than the French, curbing every instinct towards melodic effusion in favour of the exigencies of the text, yet subverting this Gallicism with daring harmonies that clearly show their Italian origins. Unexpected rhythmic complexities are also in evidence. ...[T]the well-placed soprano voice of Sherezade Panthaki is full of light, and the solid technique of Aaron Sheehan demonstrates once again that English-style tenors are a valid alternative to French countertenors. The highly professional instrumental ensemble is beyond reproach... this albums presents a fascinating musical universe. --Yutha Tep , Goldberg Magazine, Spring 2006
