Performers:
Ensemble Clément Janequin:
Dominique Visse (counter-tenor), Bruno Boterf (tenor), Jean-Paul
Fouchécourt (tenor), Philippe Cantor (baritone), Josep
Cabré (baritone), Antoine Sicot (bass), Claude Debôves
(lute)
Dominique Visse, dir.
Ensemble les Eléments
Ariane Maurette (viol), Nanneke Schaap (viol), Renée Stock
(viol), Erin Headley (viol)
Playing time: 60'
Recording site and date:
Unknown [02/1988]
Rel. 1988 (HMC), 2003 (HMA)
Excerpts:
[4], [27] Harmonia mundi "Passerelles"
HMB 590 017 / 18 [CDx2 + book] Les Contre-ténors - Mythes
et Réalités (with a book by Peter Giles)
[5]-[6], [16], [26] Harmonia mundi HMX 290
8016 / 20 [CDx5] Musique de la Renaissance Music - L'Europe
Musicale au XVe et XVIe siècles
[16] Harmonia mundi HMX 290 8171 [CD] A
History of Music, vol. 9: Chansons, Madrigaux & Songs à
la Renaissance (1500-1600) / Songs & Madrigals from the
Renaissance - Chansons de la Renaissance / Songs of the Renaissance
Compilation:
Harmonia Mundi HMX 290 838 / 40 [CDx3]
Chansons de la Renaissance
A collection of polyphonic chansons, mostly sung but some instrumental versions as well. An interesting contrast comes from El grillo, an Italian song on the cricket. The last piece is the famous funeral ode to Josquin's master, a motet-chanson which used the Requiem Aeternam chant as tenor for Jean Molinet's poem.
François VeldeThis was the period in which the style of the French chanson of Binchois and Dufay was changing most quickly. The new influences included Italian song genres (especially the short-lived frottola), and primarily the "rustic" song which was developed at this time. Many composers were also writing songs which combined these forms. As opposed to sacred music, Josquin was not the leader in these developments, but his output does include fine examples of all the styles of the time (including the older "courtly" chanson).
Three very different recordings devoted to Josquin's secular music:
Other Josquin programs which include several songs:
Another fine recording, featuring songs of this era by the acknowledged leader in the "composite" style, Alexander Agricola (c.1446-1506):
A recording featuring songs of another of Josquin's contemporaries, focusing on the more austere style:
Finally, a recording devoted to the Italian frottola, a genre in which Josquin also wrote (e.g. El Grillo):
Actually, it is now strongly suggested that such pieces as El Grillo are not by Josquin Desprez at all, but rather Josquin d'Ascanio (fl. 1459-72).
To purchasing information for this disc.
To FAQ references to this recording.
To FAQ CD index page.
Todd M. McComb