As would be expected, it’s the rediscovery of anonymous masters and such lost composers as Paulus de Broda (represented by a jaunty little tune for recorder) and the remarkable Piotr Wilhelmi z Grudziadza who leave the strongest impression. Indeed, Piotr Wilhelmi’s (a puzzling fellow who liked to sign his works in acrostics) Panis ewus is a stunner. The precision and beauty of the singing heard throughout this recording wins high marks because this isn’t easy music and performances could easily lapse into dullness, but that’s never the case here. The same can be said for the instrumentalists.

The interplay of strings and organ on an anonymous setting of Sanctissima virginum regina is gorgeous, as is the tasty organ work of Ewa Prawucka. Sound quality is of the highest caliber and while the notes are printed in painfully small type, the quality of the writing is excellent. This is another superb recording from the always interesting Warsaw-based Dux label, one of the finest early music labels on the scene.  CRAIG ZEICHNER

MUSICA FIGURATA
VARIOS
Tomasz Dobrzanski
Ars Cantus
Dux 0478
2005 - 66:44 min.