Search - Binchois Consort, Andrew Kirkman :: Josquin and his contemporaries

Novel and Interesting Performance Concept!

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 11/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The title of this CD - Josquin Des Pres and His Contemporaries give the buyer NO IDEA of what she/he will be hearing. Of the nine Latin motets on the recording, no more than two, and perhaps none at all, are authentic compositions by Josquin (1440-1521). Seven of them are currently considered "more likely" to be the works of other known composers: Nicolaes Craen, Mathurin Forestier, Nicolas Champion, Noel Bauldeweyn, and the quite well-know Adrian Willaert (1490-1562), all of whom are about a generation younger than Josquin. But all nine motets were "attributed" to Josquin after his death, at a time when his reputation stood everywhere in Europe as the supreme composer of this era. More interestingly, all nine motets were regarded by other composers, including the famous theorists of music Giuseppe Zarlino and Heinrich Glareanus, as very good examplse sof Josquin's mastery. And they were right! These nine perhaps spurious motets are all worthy of Josquin; whoever composed them know her/his business.



These days, through the wonders of cheap printing, copying, and recording, "we" have access to more of Josquin's music than the vast majority of his contemporaries had, even though it's almost certain that half or more of his compositions have been lost. I'm reasonably sure that if someone played any but the first and last of the nine motets for me, blind, and asked if they were "Josquin", I would answer "No, but very good anyway."



Andrew Kirkman and his Binchois Consort sing these nine motets with as much verve and skill as they usually bring to the performance of Renaissance polyphony. This is a group that understands how to sing long lines - long phrases - with expressive independence and transparency, so that all four or five voices are heard equally. Tuning is excellent. Timbre is rich and varied. Sound reproduction is clean. An excellent performance all around."

Josquin and his contemporaries ~ Binchois Consort

Bjorn Viberg | European Union | 10/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Josquin and his contemporaries~ Binchois Consort is absolutely gorgeous and the lack of instruments does not mean that the music is any less beautifull. The vocals speak directly to the heart and the soul. Being a very devout person at heart I love the text and it is so wonderfull to listen to these splendid vocals and then to be able to read the texts in english is truly divine and I love it. This kind of music is truly awe inspiring and to listen to vocals such as these singers makes you want to become a better singer yourself and being an amateur singer myself this is a great compliment indeed!"