In
Il Poverello, a collection of music from the 13th through the 16th centuries, the Saint Paul, MN-based early music group
the Rose Ensemble gathers vocal and instrumental pieces written in honor of, or in some way related to, St. Francis of Assisi. It's a testimony to the ensemble's versatility that it's as convincing in the piercing purity of polyphonic Renaissance motets as in rustic medieval dances. Aside from the theme of St. Francis, the works here have little obvious in common; they represent a broad spectrum of genres, styles, and nationalities, so this could be an ideal album for the listener looking for a lively and beautifully performed introduction to early music. In the a cappella Renaissance works by composers such as Guillaume Dufay, Padre Costanzo Porta, Jerónimo de Aliseda, and Tomaso Graziani, the singers perform with the clarity, technical mastery, and stylistic unanimity more typical of the finest long-established groups. The singers perform with an excellent sense of line and achieve an ideal balance and blend. The soloists likewise are secure, strong, and spirited. The accompanied songs have instrumental realizations that are varied and performed with sensitivity, and when required, with abandon. The pleasure the performers take in this music, and the energy they bring to it, are especially refreshing. The sound is clean and nicely ambient.