Rore: Missa Doulce memoire, Missa a note negre

The Brabant Ensemble continues their investigation into unknown jewels of the Low Countries Renaissance, researched by their director Stephen Rice and recorded with equal amounts of passion and erudition by the young singers of the group. Cipriano de Rore was and is principally known as a madrigal composer. This recording presents some of the least well-known works in de Rore's output. It contains two Mass settings based on French chansons, Missa a note negre on a composition by Rore himself, and Missa Doulce memoire, which takes one of the sixteenth century's greatest hits as its inspiration. Also included are three motets. Fratres: Scitote is apparently a unique instance of composition to its text: St Paul here tells the story of the Last Supper, in which Jesus takes bread, blesses and distributes it, and thereby institutes the ritual of Holy Communion.