Album

The Clemencic Consort's Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern includes a variety of Baroque works, not all of which were written specifically for Christmas, but which are certainly appropriate for the season. The only piece likely to be familiar to general audiences that has associations with Christmas is the title track by Michael Praetorius, How Brightly Shines the Morning Star. The material is fresh and the music is gently pastoral or celebratory, so the album should have an appeal for listeners looking for music for the Christmas season, but from off the beaten path. The Clemencic Consort on this recording consists of two sopranos, a countertenor, Baroque guitar, two Baroque cellos, and either organ or harpsichord played by René Clemencic himself. The selections are divided between vocal, instrumental, and keyboard pieces so there is considerable timbral variety, and the entire Consort is rarely employed all together, so the textures throughout are light and transparent. Each track offers its own distinctive delights. The solo pieces for guitar or harpsichord are especially charming. Vocal works predominate, either solo or ensemble. Alessandro Grandi's Cantabo Domino has an especially exuberant Alleluia refrain. The sacred songs by Monteverdi have all the grace and inventiveness of his madrigals, even though they are less well-known; Jubilet tota civitas in particular has a wonderful dancing exuberance. The Clemencic Consort offers spontaneous and unmannered but elegant performances that are likely to leave a smile on listeners' faces. The sound is clear and nicely ambient, but a little on the little on the loud side for an ensemble of this scale.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
Bernhard Schmid the Elder Composer Bewahr mich, Herr, for organ Work René Clemencic Organ
1	Bewahr mich, Herr, for organ	1:50			$0.99
Michael Praetorius Composer Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (from Polyhymnia caduceatrix) Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
2	Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (from Polyhymnia caduceatrix)	4:25			$0.99
Anonymous Composer Padovana in Piva (St. Mark's Dance Book) Work René Clemencic Harpsichord
3	Padovana in Piva (St. Mark's Dance Book)	2:04			$0.99
Marco da Gagliano Composer Pastor, levate Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
4	Pastor, levate	1:44			$0.99
Alessandro Grandi Composer Cantabo Domino for 4 voices Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
5	Cantabo Domino for 4 voices	2:52			$0.99
Francisco Guerau Composer Canario, for guitar Work Pierre Pitzl Guitar (Baroque)
6	Canario, for guitar	3:10			$0.99
Claudio Monteverdi Composer Jubilet tota civitas, motet for soprano, SV286 Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
7	Jubilet tota civitas, motet for soprano, SV286	3:56			$0.99
Claudio Monteverdi Composer Salve Regina, motet for tenor, SV327 Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
8	Salve Regina, motet for tenor, SV327	3:35			$0.99
Claudio Monteverdi Composer Exulta filia Sion, motet for soprano, SV303 Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
9	Exulta filia Sion, motet for soprano, SV303	5:03			$0.99
Claudio Monteverdi Composer O beatae viae, O felices gressus, motet for 2 sopranos, SV312 Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
10	O beatae viae, O felices gressus, motet for 2 sopranos, SV312	4:15			$0.99
Christian Erbach Composer Toccata secundi toni, for organ Work René Clemencic Organ
11	Toccata secundi toni, for organ	2:49			$0.99
Heinrich Schütz Composer Erster Theil kleiner geistlichen Concerten, SWV 282-305, Op.8 Work 5:52 Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
12	4.O Süsser, O Freundlicher, O Gütiger Herr Jesu Christe, SWV 285	3:39			$0.99
13	5.Der Herr Ist Groß Un Sehr Löblich, SWV 286	2:13			$0.99
Anonymous, Austrian Composer Linz Tablature, collection of pieces for organ Work René Clemencic Organ
14	Intrada. Tantz. Curanta	3:33			$0.99
Gaspar Sanz Composer Matachín, for guitar (from Instrucción de Música sobre la Guitarra Española, Book 2) Work Pierre Pitzl Guitar (Baroque)
15	Matachín, for guitar (from Instrucción de Música sobre la Guitarra Española, Book 2)	1:36			$0.99
Leonardo Leo Composer Di contento, di gioia e di diletto Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
16	Di contento, di gioia e di diletto	7:22			$1.49
Antonio Caldara Composer Ego sum panis vivus Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
17	Ego sum panis vivus	2:46			$0.99
Domenico Scarlatti Composer Salve Regina, motet for soprano, alto, and organ in A- Work Clemencic Consort Ensemble, René Clemencic Conductor
18	Salve Regina, motet for soprano, alto, and organ in A-	6:17			$0.99
Salvatore Lanzetti Composer Largo Pastorale, for 2 cellos Work Claudio Ronco Cello (Baroque), Emanuela Vozza Cello (Baroque)
19	Largo Pastorale, for 2 cellos	3:54			$0.99