Reader Doug Slocum – the guru behind Synthetic Sound Labs’ modular gear – let us know about an impressive new album of music that features analog arrangements of 16th century polyphonic vocal music.
Richard Galbraith’s Polyphony is a collection of 11 works, by Tallis, Byrd, de Lassus and others, arranged for modular analog synthesizer. Gailbraith doesn’t go the ‘switched on’ route, instead creating arrangements that – while definitely electronic – have more of an organic, orchestral feel.
Here’s a preview of the album:
Credits:
- Modular synthesizer: Richard Galbraith
- Violin (Nesciens mater virgo virum, O salutaris hostia) and keyboard (Gloria): Rene Romig
In his notes for the album, Galbraith thanks names that will be familiar to many modular synth owners: Roger Arrick, Synthesizers.com; Bryan Benting; John Burdick, Grove Audio; Phil Petschke, MegaOhm Audio; Paul Schreiber, MOTM/Synthesis Technology; Doug Slocum, Synthetic Sound Labs. Additional thanks to: John L. Rice, David Ryle
The album is available in digital format for $7 via Bandcamp, or as a CD.
Nice tune indeed
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I really dig polyphony and want to hear Richard’s stuff but the audio isn’t coming up on either my windows or mac machines. Tallis uber alles.
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Your browser settings that prevents popups or scripts, or a firewall enhancer like Privoxy (*) probably blocks the player. You need to switch it off (whatever it is) and reload the page.
(*) which you should have. Privoxy removes most ads from pages, including the crap about shaving & dating I see on Synthopia when listening to this fine arrangement.
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Wowsers, that’s really beautiful. Not at all what I was expecting. To Bandcamp I go…
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Wow – great stuff!
At the Bancamp page you can preview all the tracks, too.
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The music is obviously up now. Absolutely stunning work. Stands up fairly well beside the work of the Tallis Scholars, Van Nevel & Huelgas Ens, Herrewerghe and so on in terms of interpretation. Only wish was for a bit more timbral variation with the synth used to voice most of the lines throughout the recording. Regardless this is an extremely significant recording in my books.
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i already loved orlando de lassus. to hear this music analog…..hooooooooooooooooooooly shit
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buying on bandcamp is a no brainer. but yer selling a cd?? isnt that a dead format?!? i would certainly buy it on vinyl
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16th century polyphonic vocal music is a dead format, too.
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its not a format. and of course all “music” is dead as it lives no longer than a moment
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This is absolutely amazing. Brings tears to my eyes.
Sublime. Absolutely sublime.
Should be heard while watching this clip (mute the clip’s sound first):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG0fTKAqZ5g
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This is absolutely beautiful. I’m not familiar with the original music but I’ll certainly be looking for some now.
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Excellent stuff. Thanks for posting this.
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Thanks for sharing this. I’m listening it every night since three days.
I like ancient music mixed with modern instruments, like jacques loussier or wendy carlos with bach’s works.
The first one on the list, by j.mouton is so beautiful.
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Thank you, for all your very nice comments! They are very much appreciated.
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got two CDs, it’s so nice a musical program.
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