Reviews: CD: " The sound on this CD
is excellent. The motets almost echo in reverberant, church-like surroundings...I
would recommend purchasing this disc." Karin Pendle, IAWM
Journal, Vol. 6 nos. 1/2. *
"This CD is highly recommended." Barbara Harbach, Women
of Note Quarterly.
Reviews: MOTETS and ANTHEM (1998 recording):
"Folan sings with impeccable tone and
diction with clear, bell-like tones. Her melismas and ornamentation are
natural sounding and always fit into the context of the melodic lines...[Regina
Caeli:] Solos, duets, and full trio alternate creating a luxuriant
Baroque motet with the voices always distinct yet carefully blended together
for a close-knit ensemble....Brooks, Howell, and Haskins [instrumentalists]
are sensitive and attentive artists, and it is a joy to hear their
impeccable performances, outstanding intonation, with the refinement and
elegance of Folan's singing. Barbara Harbach, Women
of Note Quarterly. * "The
motets of Peruchona are the treasures of the recording. The opening
Christmas motet Ad gaudia, ad jubila, scored for soprano, strings,
and continuo, is exuberant and features Folan's best work on recording;
the imaginative continuo playing of organist Rob Haskins shines. Folan,
alto Roya Bauman, and tenor Kirk Dougherty excel in an ornate setting
of Regina Caeli, and Folan is excellent in the solo motet Solvite,
Solvite. Craig Zeichner, Early Music America
* "The three singers involved
in these pieces are of excellent quality, and they are joined variously
by an ensemble of two violins and organ. Barker, American
Record Guide. * "[Folan's] is a lovely, flexible sound, perfectly
suited to this repertoire, and the instrumentalists are able partners."
Karin Pendle, IAWM Journal
* The Peruchona and Isabella
Leonarda motets are performed brightly and with verve, professionalism
and enthusiasm. The sound balance is excellent. The works have been compared
to Monteverdi, and I would agree with that and add the best of Buxtehude
as well. Paul Shoemaker, www.musicweb.uk.net
Reviews: FIRST MASS (first issued on LP in
1982): "The well-wrought Mass by the record company's namesake,
Isabella Leonarda, composed while Bach and Handel were still schoolboys,
foreshadows some of the glories they were to produce while still preserving
some cadences that recall the age of Monteverdi." Joseph McLellan,
The Washington Post.
* "...an inspired composer... [Isabella
Leonarda's] Mass for four soloists and chorus abounds in spontaneous,
individual touches...Throughout the Mass she breathes new life
into the familiar texts...glowing, deeply felt performance." Rupert
W. Crumb, The New Records.
* "The style [of the Mass]
is close to Carissimi's liturgical works. It is marked by skill, intelligence,
and imagination." American Record Guide
. * "It is
a fine work; one which should be available. Anyone who loves music from
this period will enjoy this performance very much." Paul Shoemaker,
www.musicweb.uk.net *
Performance: "The Schola Cantorum at the University of Arkansas
under the direction of Jack Groh brings a lively and well-trained ensemble
to this performance of Leonarda's Mass. The soloists both vocal
and instrumental add immensely to this successful recording."
Women of Note Quarterly.
CREDITS: Recording: Recording producer
and post-production: Marnie Hall. First Mass, Op. 18 recorded
by Malcolm Addey. Marnie Hall, musical producer. Recorded February 19
and 20, 1982 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas. ADD.
Motets and Anthem recorded by Marnie Hall, July 20 and 21, 1998
in the Colgate Rochester Divinity School chapel, Rochester, New York.
DDD. Support: This recording is made possible
with public funds from The New York State Council on the Arts, a state
agency. Major funding for First Mass, Op. 18 provided by the Arkansas
Arts Council and Ms. Lily Peter. Many thanks to the Ursulines, whose advance
orders for this CD covered the recording session costs for the motets
and anthem and made this release possible.Music Publisher:
ClarNan Editions, Attn: Barbara Garvey Jackson, 235 Baxter Lane,
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, phone 501-442-7414. Cover
and Graphic Design: "Nuns in Choir," Master of St. Jerome,
ca. 1421, by permission of the British Library. Graphic
Design: Marnie Hall. © Leonarda Productions, Inc., 1998. All
rights reserved.
|
