In Nativitate Beate Mariae Virginis = Office Gregorian Chants for the Feast of the Nativity of he Blessed Virgin Mary; HENNING SOMMERRO: Maria – Espen Aalberg, Lars Sitter, percussion/ Schola Sanctae Sunnivae/ Anne Kleivset, director – 2L multichannel SACD 69, 43:57 *****:
This is a disc of whose type I generally do not like, meaning that it incorporates extra-liturgical contemporary influences into the chant that seems cutesy at best and conniving at worst. For instance, the very first antiphon, Gloriosae Virginis Mariae has percussion added to it in a sort of rhythmical commentary, something that never in a million years would have been accorded this chant in its original guise. The vast middle portion of the disc presents the music unadorned however, while interspersed among selections is a composition by Henning Sommerro, originally for organ but here transcribed for melodic percussion instruments in five interludiums called “Maria”.
Despite my puritanical misgivings when hearing the percussion in the first movement, I was quickly won over by the absolutely angelical singing of the women of the Schola Sanctae Sunnivae—first rate in every way, and in possession of a loving devotion to the music that rarely comes across so vibrantly in recordings of this type. Sommerro’s interjections fit the spirit of the sessions quite well, and instead of something that draws attention to itself it seemed to actually enhance the rest of the program, quite a tribute to the composer and director Kleivset for pulling together such a well-thought-out disc.
The Gregorian melodies had difficulty surviving in post-reformation liturgical codices in Norway, and these pieces were pulled from an Antiphonarium from the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim (13th century) where they had been put to use for utilitarian purposes in a student hostelry at the University of Copenhagen in the 16th century. These pieces were rejoined to create 10 sheets worth of music. The Feast celebrated here is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8th), rugged and flowery chant with great declamatory expression and no little emotive content. I sat enthralled each time I listened to this, amazed at both the florid nature of the music and the equally enthusiastic nature of the performers. 44 minutes is a bit short; but for once I am not going to complain, and I recommend this luscious SACD to everyone.
— Steven Ritter
