In 2021-22, I set about revisiting and buffing up my traditional sixteenth-century counterpoint chops. After working through a few initial exercises, I thought, well—the proof is really in making an actual pudding. So I set about writing a book of madrigals in a (mostly) late sixteenth/early seventeenth-century English style in six voices based on (and with texts by) the usual suspects: Thomas Morley (1557-1602), John Dowland (1563-1626), Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), John Bennet (c.1574-1614?), and John Wilbye (1574-1638).
The recording session planned for the premiere didn’t work out, and since “retiring,” I no longer have easy access to the wonderful choirs, conductors, and musicians I’ve worked with in the past. (And my deep thanks to you all!) Hence, the “AI Choir” via new software for this rendition of the complete set. The voice software is called Ace Studio, and Adobe Audition is used to help balance the parts. It isn’t perfect, but it’s remarkable in rendering this “performance” from exported midi files from Sibelius:
