{"product_id":"4589538729936","title":"Ludus Modalis - Monteverdi: Evening Prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Set of 2] - Import 2 CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLudus Modalis\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a must-hear! Monteverdi’s “Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary” is one of his greatest masterpieces, and while various interpretations have been proposed over the past half-century and there are already many competing recordings, it is surprisingly little known that such a streamlined instrumental arrangement is even possible. To begin with, since the performance environments likely varied widely depending on where 17th-century sheet music was transmitted, the scores were designed to allow for flexible reinterpretation of the instrumental lineup depending on the circumstances—and Monteverdi’s work is no exception. In particular, it is often said that *Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary* was intended to showcase the composer’s mastery of diverse compositional techniques, freely blending old and new compositional styles; if we examine it in contrast to the Renaissance-style Masses included in the same collection (such as the recording on RIC321), it becomes possible that interpreting it with almost no instruments—in an arrangement closer to a cappella—might actually allow one to perceive the stylistic differences between the individual pieces more clearly. Ludus Modalis, which has already released numerous acclaimed recordings of Renaissance polyphonic works on the RAMEE label, has taken a bold step this time by limiting instrumental use to the basso continuo alone, completely eliminating instrumental ensembles (concertato) such as violins, and recorded the work with a 13-voice chamber ensemble (the smallest ensemble advocated by the composer). The brilliance of this performance, which vividly reimagines the work, is truly breathtaking. The accompanying Japanese liner notes provide a detailed account of the circumstances leading up to the recording.\nNaxos Japan\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ramee","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53525311258913,"sku":"4589538729936","price":4400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/4589538729936.jpg?v=1789730769","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/4589538729936","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}