Josquin 500th, Part 1

Program: #22-31   Air Date: Aug 01, 2022

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In honor of last year’s festivities for the anniversary of the death of Josquin, Harmonia Mundi released a 3-CD set of some of their finest recordings dedicated to the composer: this week, the secular works.

NOTE: All of the music on these programs is from the 3 CD set on Harmonia Mundi, Josquin Desprez: The Renaissance Master. It is CD number HMX 2904016.18.

This is a reissue release, collecting selections from the Harmonia Mundi label's catalog of the music of Josquin Desprez in three volumes. Reissues generally choose the cheapest solution for graphics and presentation, but this one (although the price is nice) is sumptuous, with a hardback book containing well-produced images and full texts. The difference from other reissues is easy to understand; although Josquin is, as the title says, the undisputed Renaissance master, he's much less well known than any number of visual artists, and that's because it's hard for ordinary listeners to get a grip on some of his procedures. Thus an overview of his career, like the present release, is valuable. The notes outline the various genres in which Josquin worked, and a listener coming to the music with little prior knowledge would get something out of it. Josquin Desprez: The Renaissance Master is also of interest to those who already know and love Josquin, for it offers distinctively different ways of performing his music in a handy single package. Groups included are Paul Hillier's Theatre of Voices, Philippe Herreweghe's La Chapelle Royale, Daniel Reuss' Cappella Amsterdam, Paul Van Nevel's Huelgas Ensemble, and Dominique Visse's Ensemble Clément Janequin joined in the "Missa Pange Lingua" (performed with intervening chants) by the Ensemble Organum. Consider the contrast between Huelgas Ensemble's ethereal "Qui habitat" and the Ensemble Clément Janequin's much gutsier sound. This release can be enthusiastically recommended to anyone from Josquin newcomers to those with large Josquin collections already.

Track List

CD 1

  • 1-5. Missa de Beata Virgine

Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier

  1. Ave Maria
  2. Stabat mater dolorosa
  3. Ave nobilissima creatura
  4. Salve regina à 4

La Chapelle Royale, Philippe Herreweghe

  1. Pater noster - Ave Maria
  2. De profundis - Requiem æternam

Cappella Amsterdam, Daniel Reuss

  1. Qui habitat à 24

Huelgas-Ensemble, Paul Van Nevel

CD 2

  • 1-11. Missa Pange lingua

Ensemble Clément Janequin, Ensemble Organum, Marcel Pérès

  • 12-14. In principio erat Verbum
  • 15-17. Miserere mei, Deus
  • 18. Déploration sur la mort d’Ockeghem

Cappella Amsterdam, Daniel Reuss

CD 3

  1. Douleur me bat
  2. Adieu mes amours
  3. Plusieurs regretz
  4. Petite camusette
  5. Mille regretz
  6. Mille regretz (Canción del Emperador)
  7. En non saichant
  8. J'ay bien cause de lamenter
  9. Nimphes, nappés
  10. Ile fantazies
  11. La plus des plus
  12. Plus n'estes ma maistresse
  13. Cueurs desolez … Ne cherchez plus/Plorans ploravi
  14. Plaine de dueil
  15. Fortuna desperata
  16. Faulte d'argent
  17. Cueur langoreulx
  18. Fors seulement
  19. Je me complains
  20. Se congié prens à 6
  21. Tenez moy en vos bras à 6
  22. El grillo
  23. Si j'ay perdu mon amy
  24. Parfons regretz
  25. Vous l'arez, s'il vous plaist
  26. Allégez moy

Ensemble Les Eléments, Ensemble Clément Janequin, Dominique Visse