This new CD presents the vocal concerti of Thomas Selle (1599-1663), performed here by Anne Schneider (soprano), Pia Davila (soprano), Florian Sievers (tenor), Stephan Scherpe (tenor), Sonke Tams Freier (baritone) and The Muses' Fellows under the direction of Monika Mandelartz.
In 1634 Thomas Selle (1599-1663) published the collection Concertuum binis vocibus with ten vocal concerti for two voices and basso continuo. The first six concertos of the work have no comparable model, being laudationes or hymns dedicated to Selle's own sovereign, the family of Duke Frederick III of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf. These concertos are composed in the Italian style with highly virtuoso vocal parts and festive ritornellos. The six laudation concertos are followed by four Kleine geistliche Concerti which are not dissimilar to those composed by Heinrich Schtz. (It must be kept in mind that Schtz's Kleine Geistliche Concerti were only published two years later).
"My underlying intention has been to provide the greatest comprehendible representation of this work for which there is no equivalent in the entire history of music. I have not attempted to imitate Selle in my inserted passages, instead utilising my own English 47 musical language. My arrangements clearly communicate my own signature. I also diverge from the original version in the instrumentation in the performance which was based on the range of instruments represented in The Muses' Fellows. This recording is the first performance for almost 400 years our very personal interpretation. We await subsequent performances with great interest." Monika Mandelartz
