Antoine Busnois: Missa O Crux lignum; Motets; Chansons | Antoine Busnois, Orlando Consort |...

popular music: Antoine Busnois: Missa O Crux lignum; Motets; Chansons | Antoine Busnois, Orlando Consort

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Antoine Busnois: M...

	Antoine Busnois: Missa O Crux lignum; Motets; Chansons Antoine Busnois, Orlando Consort Harmonia Mundi Fr., 2005 average customer review:based on 1 review view larger image
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This all-Busnois disc is an early music fan's delight, especially as performed by the four accomplished singers of the Orlando Consort, who convey both the purity of Busnois' music and the many surprises lurking within it. The Mass is the "big" work, almost half-an-hour in length. But interest never flags since the music is unfailingly inventive, the voices perfectly matched, the rhythms buoyant. The Mass is preceded and followed by selections of chansons, a hymn, and a pair of motets. In these too, the 15th-century master of polyphony constantly startles with unexpected twists and turns of the long musical lines. His typically adventurous abrupt changes of rhythm, harmonic twists and turns, and pauses for dramatic effect are all rendered with aplomb. Excellent sound. Top-notch production values include a handsome booklet in readable type with texts and translations, even color reproductions of period paintings. --Dan Davis

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Lovely, yet unknown, works

Sources indicate that Antonie Busnois (c. 1430-1492) was one of the most significant composers of the late 15th century. Despite this, recordings of his works, which include two masses, as well as numerous motets and chansons, are relatively few. I have seen his works appear on a handful of renaissance music anthologies, but this is the only release, of which I am aware, which solely features the work of Busnois. Busnois was, more or less, a contemporary of Dufay, and there are some similarities between the two composers.

First of all, this music is fantastic, and it appears that Busnois' reputation (that is, during the 15th century) was well deserved. The most notable item on this program is the "Missa O Crux lignum" which is dramatic, yet beautiful, in every regard. Even though the Mass lasts for nearly half an hour it is continuously engaging and is full of beguiling harmonic and rhythmic twists. The same holds true motets and chansons accompanying the Mass. Listen to the lively syncopations in the Chanson "Resjois-toy, terre de france" (Track 4) as an example. Or listen to the rhythmic buoyancy and leaping intervals of "Vostra beautre / Vous marches du bout du pie" (translation: "Your beauty / You are walking on tiptoe") as an additional example of Busnois' inventiveness (Track 13).

As expected from the Orlando Consort, the music is excellently performed and authentically realized (to the best of our present-day knowledge). If you happen to be unfamiliar with this group, the Orlando Consort is a four member vocal ensemble consisting of two tenors, a countertenor and a baritone, specializing in the performance of medieval and renaissance works. The ensemble has a warm sound, where contrasts between the different melodic lines are emphasized. Or in other words, the ensemble never creates a uniform "wall of sound" that is typical of some renaissance music performances. In any case, the distinct style of the Orlando Consort suits this repertoire well. It should also be mentioned that the sound is near audiophile quality.

In conclusion, this is an outstanding release, and I will return to it often (especially the Mass). If you enjoy the works of Dufay, or have enjoyed the Orlando Consort's previous releases, this disc is well-worth your attention.

Highly recommended.

TT: 62:38

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