A series of five choir collections issued by the ''Compozitor Publishing House - Saint-Petersburg'' is arranged to coincide with the 7th International Competition for Young Choral Conductors to be held in Russia for the first time ever. The competition will be organized by the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts and the Center for international cooperation ''Inter Aspect'' in conjunction with the European Choral Association - Europa Cantat (April 3-6, 2013, St. Petersburg).
The collection ''Early music by the composers of Western Europe for mixed choir a cappella'' contains works by four composers, each of whom made a significant contribution to the progress in choral music, being a representative of diverse composition schools existing in Europe in this period to time.
For instance, you will get acquainted with ''Je l’aime bien'' - an ?uvre by Orlande de Lassus, one of the most remarkable figures of the Dutch composition school, motet ''Pater Noster'' of Hein rich Sch?tz, a prominent German composer, one of predecessors of J. S. Bach, motet ''Crucifixus'' of Venetian composer Antonio Lotti, which is overwhelming in its beauty and dramatic intensity, and with a fine and graceful oeuvre ''O care, thou wilt despatch me'' of the English madrigalist Thomas Weelkes.
All these works composed in polyphonic style may embellish any concert program, so as to make us reap a real pleasure out of simple, yet consummate choral music by old masters.

Sergei Yekimov

Contents:

O. de Lassus. JE L’AIME BIEN. From the Fourteenth Book of Songs
Th. Weelkes. O CARE, THOU WILT DESPATCH ME
H. Schütz. PATER NOSTER
A. Lotti. CRUCIFIXUS. For eight voices