Search - French Anonymous, Claude Gervaise, Pierre Moulu :: Chansons Nouvelles Parisan

French Songs from around 1530 in excellent interpretation by

Leslie Richford | Selsingen, Lower Saxony | 12/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chansons nouvelles. Parisian chansons and dances c. 1530 - 1550, published by Pierre Attaignant. Performed by Virelai (Catherine King, mezzo-soprano; William Lyons, renaissance flute and recorder; Susan Pell, viola da gamba; Sarah Cunningham, viola da gamba and harp; Jacob Heringman, viola da gamba and lute) and Gary Cooper, spinet. Recorded in July 1996 and May 1997 at St. Andrew's Church in Toddington/Gloucestershire, England. Published in 1998 as Virgin Veritas 7243 5 45313 2 3. Total playing time: 66'49".



The world of early music has been expanding over the last decades, and those who love the sound of period instruments and historically informed performance practice can now treat themselves practically as often as they want to new discoveries. The chansons and instrumental pieces on this CD were all published in Paris by the music printer Pierre Attaignant around 1530 and reflect the musical tastes of the royal court of Francois I. This taste was influenced by Italian examples and tended towards more simplicity and clarity in the melody line and a certain relaxed elegance in the songs (the texts of which are printed in the booklet both in the original French and in English translations). Virelai manages to perform 37 of these pieces in a way that is so captivating that the simplicity of some of the songs never leads to monotony or to the feeling that something is missing. There is plenty of variety, with lute and spinet solos interrupting songs and instrumental numbers played on viols, lute, harp and recorder. Catherine King's early music singing style is pleasing indeed, her pure, vibrato-less soprano and her clarity of diction making her contributions a highlight, equalled perhaps by Gary Cooper's superb-sounding spinet which is here so obviously different from a harpsichord. - Unfortunately, Virgin seem to have withdrawn the CD from their catalogue rather quickly; I can't understand why - if you think you could enjoy this type of music, spare no effort to get hold of a copy."