Adriano 6: A masterpiece of vocal polyphony and street art

With the release of the sixth album in the Adriaen Willaert Series, Dionysos Now! takes another powerful step in connecting vocal polyphony and contemporary art. Adriano 6 presents the Missa Laudate Deum as the central work, supplemented with a selection of madrigals and motets. This musical richness is accompanied by a distinctive visual identity, designed by Ghent-based street artist ROA.

An artistic cover by ROA

Every recording by Dionysos Now! is not only a musical highlight, but also a visual work of art. For Adriano 6, ROA, known for his black-and-white animal imagery, designed the cover. His raw, powerful style, in which composition and contrast are paramount, is perfectly expressed on the album cover. ROA's street art, typically executed with spray and acrylic paint, is recognizable worldwide and now visible on this special CD and LP.

The musical-visual synergy

Artistic director Tore Tom Denys sees a fascinating similarity between ROA's working method and composer Adriaen Willaert. "ROA's images came to mind immediately when I analyzed the Missa Laudate Deum," Denys explains. "Willaert experiments by combining melodies horizontally with harmonic modules from earlier music. Just as Michelangelo was challenged to bring together architecture and art when painting the Sistine Chapel, Willaert succeeds in merging structure and melody. I recognize that same tension in ROA's work."

Musical content of Adriano 6

The Missa Laudate Deum, a parody mass based on Johannes Mouton's motet from the Liber quinque missarum (1536), forms the heart of the album. Willaert's masterful handling of melodic lines and harmonic complexity reflects the refinement of the Parisian School. In addition to this mass, the album contains a series of madrigals and motets, including 'Qual dolcezza gamai' and 'Amor mi fa morire'. These works demonstrate Willaert's talent for bringing together text and polyphony in an expressive manner. Motets such as 'Videns Dominus' and 'Ecce Dominus veniet' impress with deep emotion and compositional genius.

Availability

Adriano 6 is available worldwide as CD and vinyl and can be ordered from 3 April onwards via the Dionysos Now! webshop (www.dionysosnow.com).