Search - Odhecaton, Da Col :: O Gente Brunette (Dig)

Between about 1400 and 1550, musical life in Europe was dominated by five generations of musicians born and formed in a well-defined geographical area generally described by musicologists as Franco- Flemish. From this area emanated the overwhelming majority of the musical elite of the Renaissance--illustrious composers and musicians, recruited at great expense by wealthy patrons across Europe. The southern part of this area, Picardy, was a rich pool of talented singers and composers. The cathedral and collegial churches of Amiens alongside the Picard church chapters pursued a general musical education for choirboys who, if they showed any natural musical talent, could become professional musicians, either in their churches or by being recruited to the private chapels of the grandest of European rulers. With five composers from different generations, and of varying status, this program of religious music conveys a relatively comprehensive survey of what 16th century musical life in the churches of one of the most musically well-endowed French provinces might have been.