Anonymous - Nicolas Gombert - Jheronimus Vinders - Antonio de Cabezón - Plainchant

Rex regum - An imperial Christmas - The Den Bosch Choirbooks, Vol. 5 (SACD)

Cappella Pratensis | Tim Braithwaite | Wim Diepenhorst

Label: Challenge Classics
Format: SACD
Barcode: 0608917288124

Catalog number: CC 72881
Releasedate: 02-10-26

- The grand finale of the acclaimed Den Bosch Choirbooks series, bringing one of Europe’s most extraordinary Renaissance music collections to life
- A unique musical reconstruction of the Imperial Christmas Mass of 1545, celebrated in the presence of Emperor Charles V in ’s-Hertogenbosch
- Performed by Gramophone Award-winning Cappella Pratensis, internationally acclaimed with the Diapason d’Or, Prix Choc, and three consecutive Gramophone Editor’s Choice distinctions, and more
- Recorded on the Van Straten organ at Amsterdam's Orgelpark, a precise replica of the 1479 Peter Gerritsz organ from Utrecht's Nicolaïkerk, built on Wim Diepenhorst's research into the surviving original parts, and unique in the world."
- Featuring Jheronimus Vinders’ rarely recorded Missa Fit porta Christi pervia, performed directly from original Renaissance choirbooks using Cappella Pratensis’ internationally celebrated historically informed performance practice

Rex regum – An Imperial Christmas recreates one of the most remarkable Christmas celebrations of the Renaissance: the festive Mass celebrated in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on Christmas Day 1545, attended by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V during an unexpected stay in the city. Centered around Jheronimus Vinders’ magnificent Missa Fit porta Christi pervia, the programme weaves together plainsong, Renaissance polyphony, traditional Dutch Christmas songs and organ music to evoke the rich soundscape of a sixteenth-century Christmas liturgy. As the final volume in Cappella Pratensis’ acclaimed Den Bosch Choirbooks series, this recording brings centuries-old musical treasures from one of Europe’s most important surviving choirbook collections vividly back to life through historically informed performance and meticulous scholarship.

Adding to the recording’s extraordinary authenticity is the use of the Van Straten organ at Amsterdam’s Orgelpark, an exact reconstruction of the celebrated 1479 organ from Utrecht’s Nicolaïkerk, whose sound world closely reflects that of the late Middle Ages. Combined with the ensemble’s immersive performance practice, singing directly from original choirbook notation, the result is an inspiring musical journey that transports the listener into the splendour, devotion and ceremonial grandeur of an imperial Christmas more than 480 years ago.

The ensemble has regularly received a Diapason d’Or, the Prix Choc, and three consecutive Gramophone Editor’s Choices for the last three CDs. In 2024 Capella Pratensis received a Gramophone Award!

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