Flemish primitives and Flemish polyphonists… the Southern Netherlands were a thriving cultural hub during the 16th century. The ensemble Dionysos Now!, founded by Tore Tom Denys, retrieves this music from obscurity and brings it back to life. The ensemble wants to inspire a broad audience to appreciate brilliant composers such as Adriaen Willaert (ca.1490-1562) and thus demonstrate that vocal polyphony from the renaissance is totally exciting music. It is newer than ever today!
Polyphony sometimes has the reputation of being complex. Unjustly! It is a pure beauty of vocal textures. The structure is indeed connected to strict rules but the sonorous result is serene. And this elegance is ingenious and lies in the smallest details. One voice begins and then the others take over the melody through imitation and interweave with each other. Each voice is an independent and equal line. Whether you focus on the whole or on an individual line, the musical sublimity touches you deeply.
Why exactly Adriaen Willaert? The driving force behind the ensemble is Tore Tom Denys. He and the 16th-century composer share the birthplace Roeselare. "When I tell Viennese fellow musicians that I was born in Roeselare, they look puzzled, but when I say I'm from the city of Adriaen Willaert, they nod approvingly. I thought it was a good idea to release a cd based on his music. That man was world-famous, the Michael Jackson of his time." Dionysos Now! is the second ensemble that Denys founded; the first was the group Cinquecento with which he promotes Flemish renaissance music. With this new ensemble, Denys wants to specifically focus on the oeuvre of his fellow Roeselarenaar.
Dionysos Now! seems to initially focus on Willaert's masses. In May 2021, the first LP Adriano 1 was released with the Missa Mittit ad Virginem as focus, paired with the eponymous hymn. Today on February 4th comes the second LP Adriano 2 with Missa Sex Vocum Super "Benedicta"; a mass entirely based on the Gregorian melody Benedicta es.
With polyphony, the greatest challenge for the ensemble is undoubtedly text intelligibility. Through the network of equal voices, you must be able to focus on each individual voice. During the recordings of Dionysos Now! you can follow the text word for word, regardless of which line you focus on. Their articulation is admirable.
The dynamic balance between the different voices is also beautifully calibrated. It is clear that the ensemble and tenor Denys are completely immersed in the renaissance repertoire. They sing with certainty and conviction, drawing on knowledge and experience. The whole is wonderful to listen to. This LP series is an example of the perfect match between performer and composer.
4.7/5
WHO: Dionysos Now!
WHAT: Adriano 1 (Adriaen Willaert: Missa Mittit ad Virginem) & Adriano 2 (Adriaen Willaert: Missa super "Benedicta" a 6)
RELEASES: Evil Penguin EPRC 0043