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ENSEMBLE A SEI VOCI
under the direction of Bernard Fabre
Garrus
AVE MARIA – MISSA DI OLIVERIA
PIETRO PAOLO BENCINI
A
Sei Voci is a French vocal ensemble
founded in 1977 with the express intent
of rediscovering the part songs - often
unpublished - of the Renaissance and
the Baroque periods. The visual dimension
of the group’s concerts greatly
enhances the emotional power of the
music.
This
approach is in accordance with the latest
research undertaken in collaboration
with several musicologists. Each project
entails a great deal of work, starting
with the restoration of original manuscripts,
research into the interpretation and
performance of the music, and then concerts,
master-classes and on to the actual
recording. While this interpretation
shows great respect for the work, it
also allows for leaving behind established
rules and embellishment in order to
rediscover a profoundly sensual and
sensuous music.
A
Sei Voci was reformed in 1991 around
one of its founders, Bernard Fabre Garrus.
Within a few short years, the group
gained an internationally renowned reputation
and was chosen in 1994 as Ensemble Vocal
de l’Année (vocal ensemble
of the year) by the French Victoires
de la Musique Classique.
A
Sei Voci performs both nationally and
internationally at the most prestigious
concert halls and festivals. Its recordings,
on NAIVE/ASTREE (Josquin Desprez, Allegri,
Bencini, Janequin, Jommelli etc) have
received numerous distinctions and great
praise from the critics.
Their
rendition of Josquin Desprez’s
Les Messes de l’Homme Armé
also received great praise from the
musical press, including ‘Choc
de la Musique’ as well as ‘Choc
de l’Année 2001’.
Very
much aware of the contemporary music
scene, A Sei Voci has also inspired
a dozen or so works by composers Thierry
Escaich, Michel Decoust, Guy Reibel,
Michael Levinas and Laurent Cuniot,
that the group now count as part of
its repertoire.
A
Sei Voci receives the support of the
city of Sablé-sur-Sarthe, the
General Council of the Sarthe region,
the Regional Council of the Pays-de-Loire
and the French Ministry of Culture.
It is a member of FEVIS (Fédération
des Ensembles Vocaux et Instrumentaux
Spécialisés).
A Sei Voci has dedicated its Fès
concert to a major composer of the Baroque
period, Pietro Paulo Bencini. Sadly
somewhat forgotten these days, he was
one of the most important masters of
music in Rome in the first part of the
17th century.
A
Sei Voci will be presenting a major
work of this composer, at the time Choirmaster
of Capella Guilia in St Peter’s
Basilica in Rome. The Missa di Oliveria,
an unpublished part song with an obscure
dedication, comes from the Vatican Library.
This piece is on a par with Scarlatti
and fascinated Handel as much as it
would later inspire Mozart and Haydn.
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