Ockeghem "Missa Mi-Mi" performed by Berkeley Chamber Singers, Tikey Zes, conductor

Ockeghem Missa Mi-Mi
Berkeley Chamber Singers, Tikey Zes (conductor)
Lyrichord LL 108
(recorded 1960)
1. Kyrie 2. Gloria in excelsis Deo 3. Credo in unum Deum 4. Sanctus 5. Agnus Dei

[@illyrialady]

From the early Renaissance, the Missa Mi-Mi is one of the very greatest sacred masterpieces of music, with complex, but always natural sounding polyphony, rhythmically complex and enchanting, and quite mystical. It is one of my very favorite pieces of music, which I first heard when I was 18-years old.
The entire Mass is exquisitely conceived and realized by Ockeghem. And the 3 sections of the Agnus Dei contain some of the most touching music ever written. The middle section of the Agnus Dei has some of the most elusive, yet effective canonical writing ever composed, leading into the 3rd and final section, which if any music has the power to bring us closer to God, this is it.
The Missa Mi-Mi is written for 4 voice parts, all male. The Berkeley Chamber Singers, however, was a mixed choir, and the entire piece was transposed up a minor 3rd accordingly. This piece, sung by a mixed choir, sounds surprisingly good. In fact, this performance remains my favorite.
If you are looking for an all male performance in the original registration, I would highly recommend The Clerks’ Group recording with Edward Wickham above all the others.