about tales of song and sadness
In the fall of 2024, a remarkable album will be released: Tales of Song and Sadness, a collaborative project between Cappella Amsterdam and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, conducted by chief conductor Daniel Reuss. This album is a tribute to two giants of Dutch music culture, Frans Brüggen and Louis Andriessen. It paints a picture of the unique musical landscape of post-war Netherlands, where early and contemporary music are closely intertwined, and the influence of these pioneers extends far beyond Dutch borders.
An album rooted in friendship
The idea for this album was born out of a deep friendship between the musicians. Daniel Reuss, conductor of Cappella Amsterdam, and Sieuwert Verster, former director of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, emphasize in their notes the importance of these personal connections. Just as Josquin des Prez mourned his colleague Johannes Ockeghem in 1497, they grieved the loss of Frans Brüggen in 2014 and Louis Andriessen in 2021. Tales of Song and Sadness is their tribute to these musical friendships, which were invaluable to the Dutch music world for decades.
Daniel Reuss and Louis Andriessen
Tracklist
The album features Louis Andriessen’s May, a work originally written in memory of Brüggen but ultimately became the last piece Andriessen composed before his own passing in 2021. This piece is framed by other works of Andriessen, along with gems from early music by composers like Josquin des Prez, Jacob van Eyck, and Jean-Philippe Rameau.
Included on the album is Josquin des Prez’s poignant Nymphes des bois, a lament for the death of Ockeghem. Brüggen himself shines as a recorder player in four variations on Flow My Tears by John Dowland, and the orchestra performs works by both Rameau and Andriessen. The final piece, Andriessen’s May, serves as a moving and fitting conclusion to this unique tribute.
Album launch
Tales of Song and Sadness will be released in October or November 2024, with the digital release on November 1, 2024. This album is a must-have for fans of both early and contemporary music and stands as a beautiful testament to the deep bond between musicians who have shaped Dutch musical culture for decades.
Record company PENTATONE
Tales of song and sadness will be released under the wings of record company PENTATONE. Cappella Amsterdam and Daniel Reuss have previously collaborated with PENTATONE on successful albums such as In Umbra Mortis (2021, winner of the Edison Klassiek award), the writings by David Lang (2022), and Alfred Schnittke’s Psalms of Repentance (2023). The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and Sour Cream are releasing an album with this label for the first time.
