2004
Various Composers
Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsories For Maundy Thursday
About This Album
The King's Singers originally made their reputation in the 1960s on the strength of their interpretations of Renaissance music. Given their wide popularity over the years, and their contractual obligations to major companies such as EMI and RCA, the King's Singers have been required to branch out into areas, such as the music of the Beatles and Gilbert & Sullivan, and to other lightweight, popular fare. Although they always did a good job in these styles, it was easy to see that the King's Singers were at least a little out of their element. In the meantime, the rest of the early music world went by, and the few opportunities where the King's Singers were able to ply their trade as Renaissance specialists went little noticed. The early music "boom" ended long ago, as has the King's Singers contract with RCA, but the King's Singers have returned on the small, relatively new Signum label from the U.K., and for this occasion they have elected to record some of the most difficult Renaissance vocal music of all -- the Responsories of famously unhinged Prince of Venosa, Don Carlo Gesualdo.

From this large 1611 publication the King's Singers select the Tenebrae Responsories for Maundy Thursday.
Track List

Gregorian Chant Maundy Thursday: Lectio 1 ("Incipit Lamentationem Hieremiae Prophetae. Aleph. Quomodo ..."
1.
Carlo Gesualdo Responsories (9) For Maundy Thursday, For 6 Voices, Feria 5
2.
3.
4.
Gregorian Chant Maundy Thursday: Lectio 2 ("Vau. Et Egressus Est A Filia Sion")
5.
Carlo Gesualdo Responsories (9) For Maundy Thursday, For 6 Voices, Feria 5
6.
7.
8.
Gregorian Chant Maundy Thursday: Lectio 3 ("Iod. Manum Suam Misit Hostis Ad Omnia")
9.
Carlo Gesualdo Responsories (9) For Maundy Thursday, For 6 Voices, Feria 5
10.
11.
12.
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, Motet For 6 Voices, W. 7/93
13.
Gregorian Chant Christus Factus Est, Versicle
14.