The patriarchal city of Milan traces its liturgy and liturgical music back to the great doctor of the church, Saint Ambrose. The Ambrosian liturgy named after him is a sister to the Roman, with many common but many differing traits. The material on this disc presents music for the mass and vespers for Epiphany.
Compared to Gregorian, Ambrosian music is much richer in embellishment and melisma. Frequently, pausing on one syllable, long melodies without clearly articulated texts are interpolated. True enough, in the simple genres such as the office antiphon, Ambrosian is even simpler than Gregorian. On special but attractive feature of Ambrosian chant is the use of tonalities, and the exposure of one or two unusual intervals, especially the tritone (F-B, for instance).
The ordinary parts of the mass are taken from a Christmas composition by a Milan cathedral choirmaster of the early Renaissance, Franchino Gafurio (1451-1522). He was a renowned music theorist in his time, and his works, though they may not attain the standard expected of recognized composers, are decently written polyphonic pieces, interesting to hear. After the Ingressa we sing the Gloria (2), before the Offertorium is the Credo (8), after it is the Sanctus (10), and between the Confractorium and the Transitorium is heard the Agnus (12). Both the Sanctus and the Agnus, and also the Kyrie at the end of the disc, are extended with inserts, known as tropes, on Christmas themes.

Track Listing

• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Ingressa
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Gloria
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Psalmellus
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Hallelujah
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Antiphona ante Evangelium
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Evangelium - Indictio Paschalis
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Antiphona post Evangelium
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Credo
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Offertorium
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Sanctus
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Confractorium
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Agnus
• Cantus missae / Chants of the Mass - Transitorium
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Antiphona ad lucernarium
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Hymnus
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Responsorium cum infantibus
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Antiphona cum psalmo
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Antiphona ad Magnificat
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Oratio
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Psalmellus
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Responsorium in baptisterio
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Antiphona ad Benedictus
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Oratio
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Psalmellus
• Cantus vesperarum / Chants for Vespers - Kyrie

Additional Details

Label: BMC Records

Genre: Classical

Run Time: 63 mins

Release Date: 03/19/10

UPC: 5998309301650