The Renaissance was a time of enlightenment for the sciences and arts. Recently I came across a recording of Antoine Brumel's Missa "Et ecce terrae motus". Purely glorious music from about the early 16th Century. It is hard to imagine a liturgical work from this period lasting almost an hour with the forces required to pull it off. The recording made by Harmonia Mundi required sixteen singers and an orchestral force( organs[3], cornets, and sackbuts[tenor and bass]) not usually seen in music of this period. The polyphonic writing is unlike anything I have ever heard in liturgical music written in the same period of time. In the Gloria, the composer repeats fragments many times over that one might think of it as a "leitmotiv". Truly astonishing and a must hear experience!
Another great Renaissance, albeit late, masterpiece is Michael Praetorius' "Christmette" recorded by Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort. Grant it that it is a "melange" arranged by the conductor, still it must be heard to be believed. Praetorius learned much from the Venetian master Giovanni Gabrieli and this can be discerned just listening to the choral and orchestral forces interplay. To this add some Lutheran, traditional German Christmas and original melodies. Included are pieces written for the North German organs of the period. Be prepared to engage such a tremendous work, recorded as if it were performed from around 1620. Their recording of "In Dulci Jubilo" is beyond belief....WOW!
Hope that doesn't "hurt your ears"!
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