In this program, we will hear one major work: the St. John Passion by Adrian Willaert. Recently, a new recording of the work by the ensemble Dionysos Now! was released.
It is not entirely certain that Adrian Willaert is the composer of this work. The piece has been transmitted without the composer’s name and is sometimes attributed to Cipriano de Rore. Under that name, Paul Van Nevel and his Huelgas Ensemble recorded the work more than 30 years ago. Recently, a new recording by the ensemble Dionysos Now! was released.
The text is taken from chapters 18 and 19 of the Gospel according to John. The words of the Evangelist are set for four voices, while the words of Jesus are sung by three low voices. The remaining roles are for two voices and are entrusted to the highest voices. The choral parts are for six voices.
The entire work is homorhythmic, which means that all voices sing the same text at the same time. This makes the text optimally understandable, which was in accordance with the guidelines of the Council of Trent (1545-1563).
After the Passion, a double motet is performed on two texts that are part of the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday.
attributed to Adrian Willaert (ca. 1490-1562)
- Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem a 2-6 Adrian Willaert
- Ecce lignum crucis – Crux fidelis a 5 Dionysos Now! conducted by Tore Tom Denys (cd: “St John Passion” – Evil Penguin Classic EPRC 0054, 2023)
addition: Bartolomeo Tromboncino (ca. 1470-after 1535), arr. Andrea Antico (ca. 1470/80-after 1539)
- Odi coelo el mio lamento Maurizio Ricci, organ (cd: “Compositori Padani del XVI° secolo” – Tactus TC 470001, 2002)