Motets of DuFay

We continue our long and fruitful association with our partners at Radio Netherlands in presenting a series of concerts from the 2011 Holland Festival of Early Music at Utrecht. We direct listeners to their web site, which will provide more in-depth information about the music and performers we hear as well as more information about the festival:
www.rnwclassical.com

The primary theme for 2011 was a celebration of Rome: The Eternal City.

III. Cantica Symphonia, Giuseppe Maletto, dir. (12-04)

All works by GUILLAUME DU FAY (1397-1474):

• Supremum est mortalibus bonum ("The highest good for mortals is peace")
• Rite maiorem Iacobum canamus (motet for St. James the Greater)
• Balsamus et munda cera (from April 7, 1431--for the first year of a Pope's reign)
• Gaude virgo mater Christi ("Hail virgin mother of Christ")
• Gloria ad modum tubae (the lower voices mimic trumpet fanfares)
• Ecclesie militantis (also written for the Coronation of Gabriele Condumar as Pope Eugenius IV, March 1431)
• Alma redemptoris Mater ("Loving mother of our Savior")
• Sanctus a 4
• Flos florum ("Flower of Flowers among lilies, which scorns the vanities of the world")
• Nuper rosarum flores ("Recently garlands of roses were given by the Pope"--for the consecration of the Florence cathedral, March 25, 1436).