CD 1: Sacred and Secular Music of Medieval France
Music of Medieval FranceBG-656, original LP cover
This program offers a view of the great upsurge in musical composition in Europe between the end of the 12th century and beginning of the 15th century. Many of the works are anonymous. Of the composers whose names are attached to some of them, little else is known. Even so towering a figure as Perotin or Perotinus, master of music at Notre Dame in Paris from 1183, did not sign his work, which is ascribed to him from other sources. The one exception is the remarkable 14th century genius Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377), who became a famous man and was not only composer and churchman but poet, diplomat and friend of kings.
If historically this music represents the first great stride in Western musical composition, it is at the same time a highly polished, sophisticated and consummate art in its own right.
The first four works are representative of the religious music written for Notre Dame during this era, and are by Perotin or come from his age. They not only exhibit the historic development of organized, measured rhythm but in their powerful "cellular" construction of repeated units and clashing contrapuntal voices are as distinctive and complete an expression of their age as the Gothic architecture of Notre Dame where they were sung.
The secular works which constitute the second half of teh program are influenced by dance, as with La Manfredina, or represent the growth of a finely expressive, florid single-voiced art of song, following, as with the ballades, rondeaux and virelais, the complex verse forms of amorous court poetry.
Originally released as Vanguard/The Bach Guild BG-656