St. Martin’s Chamber Choir

St. Martin’s Chamber Choir & Timothy J. Krueger – Hardouin: Complete 4-Part A Cappella Masses, Vol. 2 (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:00:40 minutes | 565 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Toccata Classics

Henri Hardouin (1727-1808) was a chorister in Rheims Cathedral, rising swiftly through the ranks to become “maître de chapelle” – until the French Revolution disbanded religious establishments. As a priest he was in potential danger and seems to have gone into hiding until, in 1794, the death of Robespierre allowed him to resume his duties. Hardouin’s six four-part Masses, published in 1772, are unusual for their time in being a cappella, and they enjoyed wide circulation in pre-Revolutionary France. Since then they have been roundly neglected – an omission this first complete recording intends to rectify.

(more…)