Gratia is designed and elaborated to give life to contemporary improvisations and reinterpretations of Marian antiphons in ‘counterpoint’ or, to use Jazz language, in ‘interplay’ with the performance of Gregorian chant. It features Enzo Pietropaoli on Double Bass, Gabriele Mirabassi on Clarinet, Michele Rabbia on Percussion & Live Electronics and the Sonus Vocum Ensemble. This is Enzo Pietropaoli’s 11th album at NativeDSD.
‘Gratia’ is a word that expresses the kind of feeling, both musical and spiritual, that is at the same time representative of the Marian universe; but it goes further and expresses a concept that can unite all cultures and all creeds, religious and otherwise.
Enzo Pietropaoli approached this work fascinated by the simplicity of the antiphons, by that minimalist writing that encloses an immense spirituality, an extremely precious and unique contrast, ancient and very modern. ‘Gratia’ aspires to demonstrate, indeed to confirm, that even the most diverse and distant languages can meet under the sign of a boundless mysticism, of a love that can, must, go beyond individual cults.
Enzo Pietropaoli, Double Bass & Musical Direction
Gabriele Mirabassi, Clarinet
Michele Rabbia, Percussion & Live Electronics
Sonus Vocum Ensemble
Baltazar Zúñiga, Vocals
Fabio Furnari, Vocals
Roberto Rili, Vocals
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 00:51:38
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | SACD255 |
| Qualities | |
| Channels | |
| Artists | Enzo Pietropaoli, Gabriele Mirabassi, Michele Rabbia, Sonus Vocum Ensemble |
| Composers | |
| Genres | |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Instruments | |
| Recording Engineer | Giulio Cesare Ricci |
| Release Date | April 18, 2025 |
Press reviews
NativeDSD Senior Reviewer
I’ll admit, it took me a while to really dive into this Jazz/Classical Crossover album. Is it fusion, or confusion…?
Italian Double bassist and composer Enzo Pietropaoli features arrangements of traditional sacred Marian antiphons, as well as some compositions of his own. Pietropaoli is on bass, Gabriele Mirabassi on clarinet, and Michele Rabbia on percussion and electronics. They are joined by the 3 male voices of the Sonus Vocum Ensemble. These jazz arrangements feel improvisational, and there is a serenity– an overall peacefulness.
I could write a few paragraphs talking about why you should spend some time listening to the sample tracks, but just take my word for it. The origins may be ancient, but the modern twists are really quite timeless.
This is not a Christmas album. This is not music for a visit from the Pope. This is universally spiritual. And as my friends from decades ago would say– it’s “hip”.
The recording quality is up there with Fone’s finest– recorded all tube, and all analog.
It’s unexpected, and it doesn’t fit perfectly in any category– except AMAZING!
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