contents
Renaissance Boys
Renaissance music, some might argue, is the foundation for the Vienna Boys' Choir's repertoire; it is one of the cornerstones as it were. The choir, which after all traces its history well into the Renaissance, still sings motets by Renaissance composers like Josquin, Arcadelt, Byrd, Croce, Festa, Gallus, Grossi da Viadana, Isaak, de Kerle, di Lasso, Nascus, Palestrina, Senfl, and - frequently - Victoria; some of them members of the Chapel Imperial in their lifetime, others popular composers of the time and definitely played by the Viennese court musicians.
In the Chapel building, Renaissance music can be heard on occasion, masses by Josquin Desprez (d. 1521), Andrea Gabrieli (d. 1586), Heinrich Isaak (d. 1517), Philip de Monte (d. 1603), Hans Leo Hassler (d. 1612). Recently, Josquin's Missa di dadi was performed to great acclaim and using "original" forces as seen on contemporary woodcuts: a small number of boys and men singing a cappella or indeed with Renaissance wind instruments.
Josquin's Missa di dadi: News item
Josquin's Missa di dadi: Orginal report and picture gallery