The spiritual motets of Sulpitia Cesis

This recording presents the complete collection of 23 motets for 2-12 voices composed by Sulpitia Cesis, a nun and lutenist in the Augustinian convent of S. Geminiano in Modena. This collection is remarkable not only for the generally high quality of the music it contains but also for the presence of specific indications in the partbooks for various instruments including cornetts and trombones, “forbidden entities” within the convent walls. In this world premiere recording, Cappella Artemisia employs a large ensemble of 16 women musicians: 8 voices, cornetts, trombones, theorbo, viola da gamba, violone and organ.

“**** This is an excellent recording of a conservative but compelling voice from the cloister.”
Éste es un disco excelente de una voz, conservadora pero convincente, que nos llega del claustro.” (Goldberg)
Artistico: ***** Tecnico: ***** Ascoltando questa composizione, così ricca di dolcezza, di abbandono, quasi di languore, vengono in mente le visioni delle beate medievali, testimonianza di un amore immenso per il sacro, non privo di coinvolgimento fisico oltre che spirituale. […] L’interpretazione è notevole: tutta femminile, tutta spinta verso I colori cilestrini dell’acuto e cesellata con mira stilistica sulla morbidezza. (Amadeus)
“Spirituelle Schönheit”: […] ein Klangspektrum, das von luminosen Höhen, von jubilatorischem Glanz bis zu inniger Zartheit und bis zum sinnlich-sonoren Timbre gutturaler Tiefen reicht […] Insgesamt ist die Entdeckung dieser so kostbaren wie interessanten Werke eine große Tat auf hohem interpretatorischen Niveau. […] Transparent und leuchtkräftig, aber auch nuanciert und schattiert, wenn es gefordert ist, treffen die Interpretinnen die eigentümliche Expressivität dieser Musik: ihr mystiches Licht, ihre spirituelle Schönheit, ihre sakrale Resonanz.” Concerto

The spiritual motets of Sulpitia Cesis

(2003 by Tactus)

This recording presents the complete collection of 23 motets for 2-12 voices composed by Sulpitia Cesis, a nun and lutenist in the Augustinian convent of S. Geminiano in Modena. This collection is remarkable not only for the generally high quality of the music it contains but also for the presence of specific indications in the partbooks for various instruments including cornetts and trombones, “forbidden entities” within the convent walls.

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