Audite Gentes - Psalms of the Golden Age

Melodies for the Polish Psalter By Mikolaj Gomolka Is a Collection of 150 Four-Voice Compositions Intended As a Musical Setting for Jan Kochanowski's Poetic Translation of the Book of Psalms. It Ranks Among the Most Significant Works of Polish Culture. Seemingly Simple in Style, Gomolka's Melodies Are a True Compendium of Various Musical Forms. The Performing Practice Was a Lot Less Rigid Than We Might Think Today. The Musical Score of Each Psalm Was Really a Proposal, Opening Up the Possibility for Many Different Interpretations, I.E. For Several Voices Accompanied By Lute, Organ or Other Instruments; for Solo Voice Accompanied By Lute, Vihuela or Other Harmonic or Melodic Instruments. Melodies Could Also Be Accompanied By Percussion Instruments, Since the Presence of Dance Forms Can Be Found in Many of Gomolka's Psalms. Those Same Dances Could Also Be Included in the Interpretation of Melodies As Ritornelli or Preludes. Mikolaj Gomolka's Work Offers Rich Interpretive Possibilities. It's Version for Lute (By Lute We Also Mean the Vihuela and the Renaissance Guitar) Is Perhaps the One That Let's Us Approach the Text Most Closely and the One That Moves the Affections Most. (Fernando Reyes)