Adrian Willaert : Die Motetten

   in Early Music Today (Jun, 2013)
Adrian Willaert (c.1490–1562) was one of the most influential composers of his time, and occupied the post of maestro di cappella at St Mark’s, Venice for 35 years. While Willaert’s fame was widespread from early in his life, Europe was astounded by the publication of his Musica Nova in 1559, a vast anthology containing 25 madrigals and 27 lengthy motets never previously printed. This album complements Singer Pur’s earlier recording of the Petrarch madrigals of Musica Nova, and the two together make for delightful listening. The motets are characterised by clear, unfussy word-setting and simple harmonic movement, and in Singer Pur they have the ideal performers. …