‘This could well change the way you hear and think about Renaissance polyphony.’ – Gramophone Magazine
In 1526, Lucas van Leyden was commissioned to create an altarpiece for the Pieterskerk in Leiden. The result was The Last Judgement, one of the most important works of art from the pre-Reformation period to survive the turbulent decades that followed. But this masterpiece was not the only treasure to endure the Iconoclastic Fury of 1566. Also preserved was a remarkable collection of choirbooks from the church, containing sacred music by the greatest Franco-Flemish composers of the time.
This programme features one of the finest works from these manuscripts: the six-part Requiem by the Dutch composer Jean Richafort, probably written in memory of his teacher Josquin des Prez. The performance concludes a week-long collaboration between Cappella Pratensis and the Royal Conservatoire, with students performing alongside members of the ensemble. As is characteristic of Cappella Pratensis, the music is performed from historical notation, while the plainchant is enriched with historical techniques of improvised counterpoint.