The Gothic Voices Collection

A laurel for Landini
14th Century Italy's Greatest Composer
Gothic Voices & Andrew Lawrence-King
Avie 2151 [CD]
Contents:

Anon.
Lauda; Sia laudato san Francesco

Niccolò da Perugia
Madrigale: O sommo specchio

Anon. / Francesco Landini, contrafactum arrangement of Questa fanciull' Amor
Lauda: Creata fusti, o vergine Maria

Francesco Landini
Ballata: Questa fanciull' Amor

Anon. / Francesco Landini, contrafactum arrangement of De sospirar sovente
Lauda: Batista da Dio amato

Francesco Landini
Caccia / Madrigale: Deh, dinmi tu
Ballata: De sospirar sovente
Ballata: Vaga fanciulla

Anon.
Lauda: Ave Maria, stella Diana

Francesco Landini
Ballata: Ne la più cara parte
Ballata: Guarda una volta

Anon. / Francesco Landini, contrafactum arrangement of Per l'allegrezza del parlar d'amore!
Lauda: Per l'allegrezza del nostro Signore

Francesco Landini
Caccia: Così pensoso
Ballata: Donna, perché mi spregi
Madrigale: Musica son / Già furon / Ciascun vuol

Anon.
Lauda: Peccatrice nominata

Francesco Landini
Ballata: Conviens' a fede
Ballata: Lasso! di donna

Oswald von Wolkenstein / Francesco Landini, contrafactum from Questa fanciull' Amor
Lied: Mein herz das ist versert

Francesco Landini
Ballata: Ne la mia vita
Ballata: Muort' oramai
Ballata: Che pena è quest' al cor
Ballata: Più bella donn' al mondo
Ballata: Questa fanciull' Amor

Anon.
Lauda: Vergine donzella imperadrice

Francesco Landini
Ballata: Questa fanciull' Amor
Performers:
Gothic Voices
Carole King (mezzo-soprano), Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone)
with: Andrew Lawrence-King (medieval harp).

Playing time: 66' 15"

Recording site and date:
Church Saint Andrew, Toddington, Gloucestershire, England [02/2008];
Rel.: 2008

Music in Italy, 1330-1430

A Song for Francesca
Music in Italy, 1330-1430
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66286 (CD)
Hyperion « Gramophone Award Series » 21286 (CD)
Hyperion « Helios » CDH 55291 (bar code: 034571152912) (CD)
Contents:

Andreas de Florentia - ballata: Astio non mori mai (3 voices)
Andreas de Florentia - ballata: Per la ver'onestà (2 voices)
Anon - madrigal: Quando i oselli canta (2 voices)
Anon: Constantia (harp)
Johannes de Florentia - madrigal: Quando la stella (2 voices)
Anon - ballata: Amor mi fa cantar a la Francesca (voice)
Anon arr. of Jacopo da Bologna: Non na el so amante (harp)
Landini - ballata: Ochi dolenti mie (2 voices)
Landini - ballata: Per seguir la sperança (3 voices)

French pieces from Italian manuscript:
Anon - motet: O regina seculi / Reparatrix Maria (5 voices)
Dufay - chanson: Quel fronte signorille in paradiso (3 voices)
Richard Loqueville - rondeau: Puisque je suy amoureux (harp)
Loqueville: Pur mesdisans ne pour leur faulx parler (harp)
Hugo de Lantins - rondeau: Plaindre m'estuet (3 voices)
Jean Haucourt - rondeau: Je demande ma bienvenue (voice, harp)
Anon - rondeau: Confort d'amours (4 voices)
Loqueville - rondeau: Qui ne veroit que vos deulx yeulx (harp)
Estienne Grossin - chanson: Va t'ent souspir (3 voices)
Performers: Margaret Philpot, Caroline Trevor, Rogers Covey-Crump, John Mark Ainsley, Leigh Nixon (voices); Chrisopher Page, Andrew Lawrence-King (harps)

Playing time: 50'

Recording date: September 1987, St-Jude-on-the-Hill, Hamstead, London
Rel.: 2011 (Helios)

A Feather on the Breath of God

A Feather on the Breath of God
Sequences and Hymns by Abbess Hildegard of Bingen
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion A 66039 [LP]
Musical Heritage Society MHS 4889 [LP]
Hyperion KA 66039 [Cass.]
Hyperion CDA 66039 [CD]
Hyperion "Gramophone Award Series" 20039 [CD]
Hyperion "30th Anniversary" 30009 [CD]
Contents:

Columba aspexit
Ave, generosa
O ignis spiritus
O Ierusalem
O Euchari
O viridissima virga
O presul vere civitas
O Ecclesia
Performers: Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Poppy Holden, Judith Stell, Margaret Philpot, Andrew Parrott, Kevin Breen, Howard Milner (voices); Doreen Muskett (symphony), Robert White (reed drones)

Playing time: 44'

Recording site and date:
Church of St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, UK [09/1981]
Rel.: 1982 (LP), 1984 (CD)

This recording won the Grammophone award for Early Music in 1983, and was a major factor in the modern Hildegard phenomenon. Although there are some instrumental drones on some tracks, they are barely audible. The sound is overwhelmingly vocal, and primarily female. These interpretations continue to be very popular and basically established Gothic Voices as major interpreters of medieval music.

Jerusalem: Vision of Peace

Jerusalem: Vision of Peace
Songs and Plainchants of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 67039
Contents:

Luto carens et latere
Jerusalem! grant damage me fais
Jerusalem accipitur
Te Deum
O levis aurula!
Hac in die Gedeonis
Guiot de Dijon: Chanterai pour mon coraige
In salvatoris / Ce fu en tres douz tens / In veritate / Veritatem
Gradual Hec dies quam fecit Dominus
Alleluia Pascha nostrum
Gospel
Veri vitis germine
Huon de St. Quentin: Jerusalem se plaint et li pais
Luget Rachel iterum
Invocantes Dominum
Psalm: Deus, qui venerunt
Congaudet hodie celestis curia
Hildegard: O Jerusalem
Performers: Catherine King (alto), Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), James Gilchrist (tenor), Andrew Carwood (tenor), Charles Daniels (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone)

Playing time: 73'

Recording date: January 1998 (Sussex)

The theme of this recording is the city of Jerusalem. Tracks #9-11 are in fact from The Mass of Easter Day in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem (plainchant, c.1130).

La Rue: Missa de Feria / Missa Sancta Dei Genitrix

La Rue: Missa de Feria / Missa Sancta Dei Genitrix
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 67010
Hyperion "Helios" CDH 55296
Contents:

Missa de Feria à 5
Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus
Agnus Dei


O domine, Jesu Christe (lutes)
Pater de celis Deus à 6
Regina celi (lutes)

Missa Sancta Dei genitrix à 4
Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus
Agnus Dei


Salve regina (lutes)
Performers: Catherine King (alto), Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), Donald Greig (baritone), Christopher Wilson (lute), Shirley Rumsey (lute)

Playing time: 66'

Recording date: September 1997

The lute arrangements of motets has some basis in the Renaissance intabulation idiom.

French and English music, 1350-1420

Lancaster and Valois
French and English music, 1350-1420
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion CDA 66588
Hyperion "Helios" CDH 55294
Contents:

Machaut: Donnez, signeurs (3 voices)
Anon: Puis qu'autrement ne puis avoir (voice, harp, lute)
Anon: Soit tart, tempre, main ou soir (4 voices)
Solage: Tres gentil cuer (3 voices)
Pycard: Credo (4 voices)
Machaut: Quand je ne voy (voice, harp, lute)
Anon: Le ior (harp)
Anon: Avrai je ja de ma dame confort? (3 voices)
Machaut: Riches d'amour (voice, harp)
Machaut: Pas de tor en thies pais (3 voices)
Sturgeon: Salve mater domini / Salve templus domini (3 voices)
Anon: Sanctus (3 voices)
Fonteyns: Regali ex progenie (3 voices)
Cesaris: Mon seul voloir / Certes m'amour (3 voices)
Cordier: Ce jour de l'an (3 voice)
Cesaris: Se vous scaviez, ma tres douce maistresse (3 voices)
Anon: Je vueil vivre au plaisir d'amours (4 voices)
Performers: Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, Andrew Tusa, Charles Daniels, Leigh Nixon, Stephen Charlesworth, Donald Grieg, Andrew Lawrence-King, Christopher King

Playing time: 59'

Recording date:
December 1991; rel.: 1992 (CDA), 2008 (CDH)

Reviewed in:
Fanfare (vol./#-p): 16/3- (Jan/Feb 1993) & 32/2-375 (Nov/Dec 2008)
Goldberg (y., #-p.): 2008, 53-83

This is a landmark recording, made after Gothic Voices had resolved a polyphonic vocalization style. It represents a certain set of ideas on vowel color and simultaneous vocal articulation. Much of the English music of the period is liturgical, and the Latin pieces above are from England.

Songs by Machaut

The Mirror of Narcissus
Songs by Machaut
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion A 66087 [LP]
Hyperion CDA 66087 [CD]
Contents:

Ballade: Dame, de qui toute ma joie vient (4 voices)
Virelai: Foy porter (voice)
Motet: Dame, je sui cilz / Fins cuers doulz (3 voices)
Virelai: Tuit mi penser (voice)
Rondelet: Dame, mon cuer en vous remaint (3 voices)
Virelai: Dame, a qui (voice)
Ballade: Biauté qui toutes autres pere (3 voices)
Virelai: Je vivroie liement (voice)
Rondeau: Rose, liz, printemps, verdure (4 voices)
Virelai: Dame, a vous sans retollir (voice)
Ballade: Amours me fait desirer (3 voices)
Virelai: Douce dame jolie (voice)
Motet: Inviolata genitrix / Felix virgo / Ad te suspiramus (4 voices)
Performers: Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, Andrew King, Colin Scott Mason, Peter McCrae

Playing time: 51'

Recording date: April 1983;
rel.: 1983 [LP], 1987 [CD]

Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 7/5-220 (May/June 1984, LP); 11/3- (January/February 1988, CD)

This is an all-vocal performance, alternating polyphonic with monophonic songs.

Masters of the Rolls - English 14th Century

Masters of the Rolls
Music by English Composers of the Fourteenth Century
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 67098
Contents:

Ab ora summa nuncius (3 voices)
Inter usitata / Inter tot et tales (3 voices)
Vexilla regni prodeunt (voice)
Singularis laudis digna (3 voices)
Dulcia dona redemptoris (3 voices)
Summum regem honoremus (voice)
Omnis terra / Habenti dabitur (3 voices)
Copiose caritatis (voice)
Missus Gabriel de celis (3 voices)
Pura, placens / Parfundement plure (3 voices)
Letetur celi curia (3 voices)
Salve regina (3 voices)
Jesu fili virginis (plainsong; voice)
Jesu fili / Jesu lumen / Jesu Fili Virginis (3 voices)
Sospitati dat egrotos (voice)
Exultemus et letemur (2 voices)
Stella maris illustrans omnia (3 voices)
Venit dilectus meus (5 voices)
Pange lingua (voice)
O sponsa dei electa (3 voices)
Generosa Jesse plantula (3 voices)
Musicorum collegio / In templo dei (3 voices)
Performers: Catherine King (alto), Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Charles Daniels (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone)

Playing time: 59'

Recording date: January 1999 (West Sussex)

The distinction between Latin liturgical polyphony in England and France during this period is not so much that England produced more of it, or inherently more interesting material, but that it produced almost no significant vernacular polyphony. The Latin works thus take on a relatively greater stature by way of illustrating much of the style of the time.

A recording of even earlier repertory by the present ensemble:

The Earliest Songbook in England
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 67177

Music for the Lion-Hearted King

Music for the Lion-Hearted King
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66336
Helios 55292
Contents:

Mundus vergens (4 voices)
Novus miles sequitur (3 voices)
Gace Brulé: A la douçour de la bele seson (voice)
Sol sub nube latuit (2 voices)
Hac in anni ianua (3 voices)
Anglia, planctus itera (voice)
Etas auri reditur (2 voices)
Vetus abit littera (4 voices)
In occasu sideris (2 voices)
Blondel de Nesle: L'amours dont sui espris (voice)
Purgator criminum (3 voices)
Chastelain de Couci: Li nouviauz tanz (voice)
Pange melos lacrimosum (2 voices)
Blondel de Nesle: Ma joie me semont (voice)
Ver pacis apperit (2 voices)
Latex silice (4 voices)
Performers: Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, John Mark Ainsley, Leigh Nixon

Playing time: 60'

Recording date: November 1988

Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 31/5-112 (May/June 2008)

The disc is sub-titled: "Music to Commemorate the Eighth Centenary of the Coronation of King Richard I of England in Westminster Abbey, 3 September 1189." The program is mainly from France c.1200, and includes both sacred and secular selections.

The Castle of Fair Welcome

The Castle of Fair Welcome
Courtly songs of the later 15th century
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion A 66194 [LP]
Hyperion CDA 66194 [CD]
Helios 55274 [CD]
Contents:

Morton: Le souvenir de vous me tue (4 voices)
Regis: Puisque ma damme / Je m'en voy (5 voices)
Anon: Las je ne puis plus nullement durer (harp)
Morton: Que pourroit plus (3 voices)
Bedyngham: Myn hertis lust (harp, lute)
Binchois: Dueil angoisseux (4 voices)
Dufay: Ne je ne dors (3 voices)
Anon: En amours n'a si non bien (voice)
Vincenet: La pena sin ser sabida (4 voices)
Anon: Venise - Mi ut re ut (lute)
Morton: Plus j'ay le monde regardé (3 voices)
Frye: So ys emprinted (harp, lute)
Charles the Bold: Ma dame, trop vous mesprenés (3 voices)
Enrique: Pues seviçio vos desplaze (4 voices)
Performers: Gill Ross, Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, John Mark Ainsley, Leigh Nixon, Peter Harvey, Patrick Ardagh-Walter, Christopher Page, Christopher Wilson

Playing time: 47'

Recording date: October 1985

The Earliest Songbook in England

The Earliest Songbook in England
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 67177
Contents:

Verbum patris umanatur
In hoc ortus occidente
Regis cuius potentia
Ecce torpet probitas
Magno gaudens gaudio
Rerum deus conditor
Cantu miro
Vacillantis trutine
In natali novi regis
Diastematica
Divino maduit
Virgo mater salvatoris
Tronus regis instauratur
Benedicamus domino: Spiritus almi
Adulari nesciens
Agnus Dei: Qui pius est factus
Resonet, intonet
Ad honorem salvatoris
Ad honorem salvatoris
Argumenta faluntur fisice
Flos floriger
Licet eger cum egrotis
Ad cantus letitie
Performers: Catherine King (alto), Steven Harrold (tenor), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Charles Daniels (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone)

Playing time: 65'

Recording date: December 1999

This manuscript dates to c.1200.

The Garden of Zephirus

The Garden of Zephirus
Courtly songs of the early fifteenth century
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion A 66144 [LP]
Hyperion CDA 66144 [CD]
Helios 55289 [CD]
Contents:

Dufay: J'antendray tan qu'il vous playra (3 voices)
Anon: N'a pas long temps que trouvay Zephirus (voice, harp)
Anthonello de Caserta: Amour m'a le cuer mis en tel martire (3 voices)
Briquet: Ma seul amour et ma belle maistresse (2 voices)
Landini: Nessun ponga speranca (3 voices)
Dufay: Mon cuer me fait tous dis penser (4 voices)
Gacian Reyneau: Va t'en, mon cuer, avent mes yeux (3 voices)
––
Matheus de Sancto Johanne: Fortune, faulce, parverse (4 voices)
Francus de Insula: Amours n'ont cure de tristesse (3 voices)
Brollo: Qui le sien vuelt bien maintenir (3 voices)
Landini: Giunta vaga bilta (voice, harp)
Anon: Je la remire, la belle (3 voices)
Dufay: Adieu ces bons vins de Lannoys (3 voices)
Performers: Gill Ross (soprano), Margaret Philpot (contralto), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Andrew King (tenor), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Imogen Barford (medieval harp)

Playing time: 25' 45" + 23' 45" = 49' 30"

Recording date: Church of St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, June 1984;
Rel.: 1985

13th-century motets

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Motets and Songs from Thirteenth Century France
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66423 [CD]
Helios 55273 [CD]
Contents:

Je ne chant pas / Talens m'est pris / Aptatur / Omnes (4 voices)
Trois sereurs / Trois sereurs / Trois sereurs / Perlustravit (4 voices)
Blondel de Nesle: En tous tans que vente bise (voice)
Plus bele que flors / Quant revient / L'autrier jouer / Flos filius eius (4 voices)
Par un matinet / Hé, bergier! / Eius (4 voices)
De la virge Katerine / Quant froidure / Agmina milicie / Agmina (4 voices)
Colin Muset: Trop volentiers chanteroie (voice)
Ave parens / Ad gratie / Ave Maria (3 voices)
Super te Jerusalem / Sed fulsit virginitas / Primus tenor / Dominus (4 voices)
A vous douce debonnaire (voice)
Mout souvent / Mout ai esté en dolour / Mulierum (3 voices)
Bernart de Ventadorn: Can vei la lauzeta mover (voice)
Quant voi l'aloete / Diex! je ne m'en partiré ja / Neuma (3 voices)
En non Dieu / Quant voi la rose / Nobis (3 voices)
Gautier de Dargies: Autres que je ne sueill fas (voice)
Je m'en vois / Tels a mout / Omnes (2 voices, harp)
Festa januaria (3 voices)
Performers: Margaret Philpot (alto), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Rufus Müller (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), Christopher Page (harp)

Playing time: 46'

Recording date: March 1990

This performance consists of nine French motets, two Latin motets, one Latin polyphonic conductus (the final track), and five troubadour or trouvère songs. Those without composers noted are anonymous, including all of the motets.

This disc gives a fine introduction to the 13th century motet, both through discussion in the liner notes, and by prefacing several of the renditions with the individual lines which make up the motet. This makes it much easier to hear how these compact pieces really fit together.

French Medieval Songs and Motets

The Medieval Romantics
French Songs and Motets, 1340-1440
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion CDA 66 463 [CD]
Hyperion KA 66 463 [Cass.]
Hyperion Helios CDH 55293 [CD]
Contents:

Quiconques veut d'amours joïr (4 voices)
Je languis d'amere mort (voice, harp, lute)
Solage: Joieux de cuer en seumellant estoye (4 voices)
Quant voi le douz tans / En mai / Latus (3 voices)
J de Porta: Alma polis religio / Axe poli cum artica (4 voices)
Machaut: C'est force, faire le weil (voice)
Paolo Tenorista: Sofrir m'estuet et plus non puis durer (3 voices)
Plus bele que flors / Quant revient / L'autrier jouer / Flos Filius Eius (4 voices)
Machaut: Tant doucement me sens emprisonnes (2 voices)
Degentis vita / Cum vix artidici (4 voices)
Mais qu'il vous viengne a plaisance (voice, harp, lute)
Jacob de Senleches: En ce gracieux tamps joli (3 voices)
Machaut: Comment qu'a moy lonteinne (voice)
Dufay: Je requier a tous amoureux (3 voices)
Dufay: Las, que feray? Ne que je devenray (harp, lute)
Gilet Velut: Je voel servir plus c'onques mais (3 voices)
Johannes de Lymburgia: Tota pulcra es, amica mea (4 voices)
Performers: Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, Andrew Tusa, Charles Daniels, Leigh Nixon, Stephen Charlesworth, Donald Greig, Andrew Lawrence-King (harp), Christopher Page (lute)

Playing time: 56'

Recording date: May 1991

Music for the Knights of the Garter

The Service of Venus and Mars
Music for the Knights of the Garter, 1340-1440
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66238 (CD)
Hyperion "Gramophone Award Series" 21238 (CD)
Hyperion "Helios" 55290 (CD)
Contents:

de Vitry: Gratissima virginis / Vos qui admiramini / Gaude gloriosa
Anon: Singularis laudis digna
Pierre des Molins: De ce que fol pense
Anon: De ce que fol pense
Anon: Lullay, lullay
Pycard: Gloria
Anon: Ther is no rose of swych virtu
Power: Sanctus
Franchois Lebertoul: Las, que me demanderoye
Anon: Le gay playsir
Anon: Le grant pleyser
John Pyamour: Quam pulchra es
Dunstable: Speciosa facta es
Soursby: Sanctus
Richard Loqueville: Je vous pri que j'aye un baysier
Anon: Agincourt Carol
Performers: Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, John Mark Ainsley, Leigh Nixon, Peter Harvey, Colin Mason, Andrew Lawrence-King (harp)

Playing time: 50'

Recording date: October 1986

Music for Court and Church from the later Middle Ages

The Spirits of England and France - I
Music for Court and Church from the later Middle Ages
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66739 [CD]
Helios 55281 [CD]
Contents:

Part I: Fourteenth & Fifteenth Centuries
Anon: Quant la douce jouvencelle (3 voices)
Cooke: Gloria (5 voices)
Matteo da Perugia: Belle sans per (3 voices)
Machaut: Ay mi! dame de valour (voice)
Anon: En cest mois de May (4 voices)
Anon (virelai): Laus detur multipharia (4 voices)
Old Hall (anon): Credo (5 voices)
Anon: La uitime estampie real (fiddle)
Pykini: Plaisance, or tost (4 voices)

Part II: Twelfth & Thirteenth Centuries
Anon: Deduc, Syon, uberrimas (2 voices)
Anon: La septime estampie real (fiddle)
Anon (motet): Je ne puis / Par un matin / Le premier jor / Iustus (4 voices)
Anon: Beata nobis gaudia (voice)
Anon (motet): Virgo plena gratie / Virgo plena gratie / Virgo (3 voices)
Anon: La quarte estampie real (fiddle)
Anon: Crucifigat omnes (voice)
Anon: Flos in monte cernitur (3 voices)
Anon: In Rama sonat gemitus (voice)
Perotinus: Presul nostri temporis (3 voices)
Anon: Ave Maria (3 voices)
Performers: Rogers Covey-Crump, Paul Agnew, Julian Podger, Andrew Tusa, Leigh Nixon, Stephen Charlesworth, Henry Wickham, Pavlo Beznosiuk (fiddle)

Playing time: 63'

Recording date: March 1994

Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 18/4- (March/April 1995), 30/6-268 (July/August 2007)
Goldberg (y., #-p.): 2008, 54-86

This recording includes pieces from the 12th through 15th centuries, although it is principally music from the 13th & 14th centuries. It is part sacred and part secular. Latin works without indicated genres are conducti.

Trouvères

The Spirits of England and France - II
Songs of the Trouvères
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66773
Helios CDH 55282
Contents:

Richart de Semilli (fl.c.1200; pastourelle): Je chevauchai (alto, lute)
Gace Brulé (fl.c.1179-c.1212; grand chant): Desconfortez, plains de dolor (tenor)
Anon: Estampie (fiddle)
Gace Brulé (grand chant): Quant define fueille et flor (baritone)
Anon (dansa): Donna pos vos ay chausida (soprano, lute)
Gace Brulé (grand chant): De bien amer grant joie atent (alto)
Anon (pastourelle): Quant voi la fleur nouvele (alto, bagpipes)
Gontier de Soignies (grand chant): Dolerousement comence (tenor)
Wibers Kaukesel (balade): Un chant novel (soprano, percussion)
Gace Brulé (grand chant): Cil qui d'amours (baritone)
Anon: Estampie (fiddle)
Gautier de Dargies (descort): La doce pensee (tenor)
Anon (dansa): Amors m'art con fuoc am flama (alto, bagpipes)
Adam de la Halle (d. c.1288; jeu parti): Assenés chi, Grievilier (baritone)
Ernous li Viele (pastourelle): Por conforter mon corage (tenor)
Anon: Estampie (fiddle)
Wibers Kaukesel (grand chant): Fins cuers enamourés (tenor)
Audefroi (fl.c.1225; chanson de toile): Au novel tens pascor (alto)
Performers: Emma Kirkby (soprano), Margaret Philpot (alto), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Henry Wickham (baritone), Robert White (bagpipes), Nick Bicat (percussion), Pavlo Beznosiuk (fiddle), Christopher Page (lute)

Playing time: 62'

Recording date: December 1994

Excerpts:
[3] Cantus C 9705/6 Dictionary of Medieval & Renaissance Instruments

Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 19/1- (Sep./Oct. 1995); 33/2-338 (Nov./Dec. 2009)

This recording presents a fine introduction to the monophonic trouvère repertory of Northern France in performances which are very vocally oriented.

15th century songs

The Spirits of England and France - III
Binchois and his Contemporaries
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66783
Hyperion Helios 55283
Contents:

Binchois: Qui veut mesdire (3 lutes)
Binchois: Amoreux suy (3 voices)
Binchois: Adieu mon amoreuse joye (3 voices)
Cardot: Pour une fois (3 lutes)
Binchois: Ay! doloureux (3 voices)
Gilet Velut: Un petit oyselet (3 lutes)
Anon: Abide, I hope (3 voices)
Velut: Laissies ester (3 voices)
Johannes Legrant: Se liesse (3 lutes)
Johannes de Lymburgia: Descendi in ortum meum (3 voices)
Power: Gloria (6 voices)
Binchois: Magnificat secundi toni (3 voices)
Dunstable: Beata Dei genitrix (3 voices)
Binchois: Se la belle (3 voices)
Pierre Fontaine: J'ayme bien celui (3 voices)
Machaut: Il m'est avis (4 voices)
Anon: Exultavit cor in Domino (2 voices)
Bittering: En Katerina solennia / Virginalis concio / Sponsus amat sponsum (3 voices)
Performers: Catherine King, Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, Paul Agnew, Steven Harrold, Julian Podger, Leigh Nixon, Stephen Charlesworth, Henry Wickham, Shirley Rumsey (lute), Christopher Wilson (lute), Christopher Page (lute)

Playing time: 67'

Recording date: March 1995

Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 19/4- (Mar./Apr. 1996); 33/3-342 (January / February 2010)

This recording emphasizes Binchois and his contemporaries (excluding Dufay). Whereas Dufay traveled widely and spent an extended period in Italy, Binchois spent his entire creative life in Burgundy. Also included are some contemporaneous sacred pieces.

Missa Caput

The Spirits of England and France - IV
Missa Caput / Story of the Salve Regina
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66857
Hyperion Helios 55284
Contents:

Story of Salve Regina I - Pange lingua (chant; 4 voices)
Missa Caput à 4 - Kyrie Deus creator omnium
Missa Caput - Gloria
Story of Salve Regina II
Missa Caput - Credo
Story of Salve Regina III
Missa Caput - Sanctus
Story of Salve Regina IV
Missa Caput - Agnus Dei
Story of Salve Regina V
Salve Regina (chant; 2 voices)
Jesu for thy mercy (3 lutes)
Smert / Trouluffe: Jesu fili Dei (3 lutes)
Make us merry (3 lutes)
Nowell, nowell, nowell (monophonic carol)
Clangat tuba (carol à 3)
Alma redemptoris mater (antiphon à 3)
Old Hall: Agnus Dei à 4
Performers: Catherine King (alto), Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), Donald Greig (baritone), Henry Wickham (baritone), Shirley Rumsey (lute), Christopher Wilson (lute), Christopher Page (lute)

Playing time: 66'

Recording date: July 1996

The 4-voice anonymous English Missa Caput (c.1440) is one of the most famous of the early cantus firmus masses. It was once ascribed to Dufay, but no longer. It is interspersed with a recently discovered monophonic Latin poem (sung by 4 voices in unison here) describing the imaginary discovery of the Salve Regina antiphon (an unusual choice, to be sure). Also included are some 15th century carols and more ordinary Latin polyphony.

The next volume in this series, devoted to closely related music:

The Spirits of England and France - V
Missa Veterem hominem - An anonymous English Mass setting from c.1440
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66919

Missa Veterem hominem

The Spirits of England and France - V
Missa Veterem hominem - An anonymous English Mass setting from c.1440
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66919 [CD]
Hyperion Helios 55285 [CD]
Contents:

Jesu fili virginis à 3
Doleo super te (chant)
Gaude Maria virgo (chant)
Deus creator omnium (chant)
Missa Veterem hominem - Kyrie Deus creator omnium
Missa Veterem hominem - Gloria
Jesu salvator (chant)
Missa Veterem hominem - Credo
A solis ortus (chant)
Missa Veterem hominem - Sanctus & Benedictus
Salvator mundi (chant)
Missa Veterem hominem - Agnus Dei
Christe, qui lux es (chant)
To many a well à 3
Sancta Maria virgo à 3
Mater ora filium à 3
Ave maris stella (chant)
Dunstaple: Beata mater à 3
Pange lingua (chant)
Performers: Catherine King (alto), Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), Donald Greig (baritone)

Playing time: 65'

Recording date: July 1996

The 4-voice anonymous English Missa Veterem hominem (c.1440) is closely related the Missa Caput, and so also influential toward introducing English ideas on mass composition into Continental practice. The present program also includes interspersed tracks of Sarum chant (the style used in England) and other short 15th century polyphonic pieces.

French Medieval Songs

The Study of Love
French Songs and Motets of the 14th Century
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66619
Hyperion Helios 55295
Contents:

Pour vous servir (3 voices)
Puis que l'aloe ne fine (voice, harp, lute)
Jour a jour la vie (4 voices)
Machaut: Dame, je suis cilz / Fins cuers (3 voices)
Combien que j'aye (voice, harp, lute)
Marticius qui fu (3 voices)
Renouveler me feïst (3 voices)
Machaut: Trop plus / Biauté paree / Je ne suis (3 voices)
Fist on dame (3 voices)
Il me convient guerpir (2 voices)
Machaut: Tres bonne et belle (3 voices)
Le ior (Faenza Codex) (harp)
En la maison Dedalus (3 voices)
Combien que j'aye (harp)
La grant biauté (3 voices)
Pycard: Gloria (4 voices)
Machaut: Se mesdisans (voice)
En esperant (2 voices)
Ay las! quant je pans (3 voices)
Machaut: Dame, je vueil endurer (voice)
Solage: Le basile (4 voices)
Performers: Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, Andrew Tusa, Julian Podger, Leigh Nixon, Stephen Charlesworth, Donald Greig, Andrew Lawrence-King, Christopher Page

Playing time: 60'

Recording date: May 1992

The Unknown Lover

The Unknown Lover
Songs by Solage and Machaut
Gothic Voices
Avie 2089
Contents:

Solage: Le Basile (4 voices)
Machaut: Mors sui, se je ne vous voy (2 voices)
Solage: En l'amoureux vergier (3 voices)
Machaut: Quant je sui mis au retour (voice)
Solage: Tres gentil cuer (3 voices)
Solage: Fumeux fume par fumee (3 voices)
Solage: Joieux de cuer (4 voices)
Machaut: Dame se vous m'estes lonteinne (voice)
? Solage: Adieu vous di (3 voices)
Machaut: Plus dure que un dyamant (2 voices)
Solage: Corps feminin (3 voices)
Solage: S'aincy estoit (3 voices)
Solage: Pluseurs gens (4 voices)
Machaut: Douce dame, tant com vivray (2 voices)
? Solage: Le mont Aön de Trace (3 voices)
Machaut: Se je souspir parfondement (voice)
Solage: Calextone, qui fut dame (3 voices)
Machaut: Dieus, Biaute, Douceur, Nature (voice)
Solage: Helas! je voy mon cuer (4 voices)
Performers: Catherine King (mezzo-soprano), Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone); Jonathan Arnold (bass), Robert Macdonald (bass)

Playing time: 71'

Recording date: February 2006 (Gloucester)

Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.): 545-111 (march 2007)
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 30/4-226 (march/april 2007)
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.): 84/1012-104 (november 2006)

The program contains all the works attributed to Solage, as well as a couple that may be his on stylistic grounds. All come from the Chantilly Codex, where he is the most-represented composer.

This is the first Gothic Voices recording without the named participation of Christopher Page, although it states the ensemble remains firmly wedded to the principles he established.

Spanish songs & motets

The Voice in the Garden
Spanish Songs and Motets, 1480-1550
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66653
Hyperion « Helios » CDH 55298
Contents:

Juan del Encina: Mi libertad en sosiego
Anon: A la villa voy
Anon: Passe el agoa
Anon: Harto de tanta porfia
Narváez: Fantasia tercer tono
Peñalosa: Por las sierras de Madrid
Peñalosa: Ne reminiscaris, Domine
Anon: Dindirin,dindirin
Narváez: Fantasia segundo tono
Anon: Ave, Virgo, gratia plena
Gabriel: Yo creo que n'os dio Dios
Milan: Fantasia 10
Peñalosa: Precor te, Domine
Julius de Modena: Tiento
Encina: Los sospiros no sosiegan
Narváez: Paseavase el rey moro
Palero: Paseavase el rey moro
Enrique: Mi querer tanto vos quiere
Milan: Fantasia 18
Anon: Dentro en el vergel
Anon: Entra Mayo y sale Abril
Milan: Fantasia 12
Gabriel: La bella malmaridada
Peñalosa: Sancta Maria
Performers: Evelyn Tubb, Margaret Philpot, Rogers Covey-Crump, Andrew Tusa, Julian Podger, Leigh Nixon, Donald Greig, Stephen Charlesworth, Christopher Wilson (vihuela), Andrew Lawrence-King (harp)

Playing time: 52'

Recording date: April 1993;
Rel.: 1993 (HYP), 2009 (CDH)

A Compilation
Contents:

A Feather on the Breath of God
The Service of Venus and Mars
A Song for Francesca
Released: 2006