Album

4The Chantilly Codex is a manuscript with ninety songs and thirteen motets copied sometime before 1400 in Avignon or Foix, representing an overview of the general song repertory for that time. The texts are often arcane and the notation complex, but the adventure is rewarding, revealing both the artistry and often strange concerns of that period. The selection, performed here by the talented Ensemble P.A.N. of Switzerland, is a fine rendering of the spirit and practices of this artistic flowering amidst a land of strife and difficult existence. Beginning with the strangest music and texts, we meet the microtonal and "snaky" swooping and odd tonalities of two pieces referring to the "society of smokers" of the time, who undoubtedly smoked hashish and substances other than tobacco. The involuted texts, with hidden meanings, are Johannes Symonis' (called Hasprios) punning ballade Puisque je suis fumeux (Since I am smoky, full of smoke, smoke I must, for, if I did not smoke, those who call me smoke-head, by reason of smoke, I would prove them wrong") and Solage's rondeau Fumeux Fume par fumee ("A smoker smokes through smoke. A smoky speculation.") There are also songs about great musicians, such as Jehan Suzay's ballade Pictagoras, Jabol et Orpheus, an anonymous love poem and instrumental, a typical imitation birdsong (virelai) by Jean Vaillant entitled Par maintes foys, and another virelai by the mysterious Grimace called A l'arme, a l'arme about a battle of lovers. A brilliant four-voice double ballade (two simultaneous texts), Quant Theseus, by the master Guilliame de Machaut is perhaps the crowning star of the collection. Another ballade double by F. Andrieu, Armes, amours, concludes this fascinating album.

© "Blue Gene" Tyranny, All Music Guide

CD 1
Johannes Symonis Composer Puisque je suis fumeux Work Ensemble P.A.N. Ensemble
1	Puisque je suis fumeux	4:28			$0.99
Jehan Suzay Composer Pictagoras, Jabol et Orpheus Work Ensemble P.A.N. Ensemble
2	Pictagoras, Jabol et Orpheus	5:21			$0.99
Pierre des Molins Composer De ce que fol pense, ballade a3 Work Randall Cook Vielle, Shira Kammen Vielle, Crawford Young Lute
3	Part 1	2:34			$0.99
Anonymous, Codex Chantilly Composer À mon pouir je garde (virelai) Work Shira Kammen Vielle, Crawford Young Lute
4	À mon pouir je garde (virelai)	2:34			$0.99
Anonymous, Codex Chantilly Composer Medee fu en amer véritable (ballade) Work Ensemble P.A.N. Ensemble
5	Medee fu en amer véritable (ballade)	7:06			$0.99
Anonymous, Codex Chantilly Composer En nul estat, (a3, attrib. Golscalch) Work Shira Kammen Vielle, Crawford Young Lute
6	En nul estat, (a3, attrib. Golscalch)	2:17			$0.99
Solage Composer Fumeux fume par fumée, (rondeau, a3) Work Michael Collver Countertenor, Randall Cook Vielle, Shira Kammen Vielle
7	Fumeux fume par fumée, (rondeau, a3)	4:38			$0.99
Anonymous, Codex Chantilly Composer Ha, Fortune (ballade) Work Shira Kammen Vielle, Crawford Young Lute
8	Ha, Fortune (ballade)	1:45			$0.99
Baude Cordier Composer Tout par compas suy composés (rondeau, a3) Work Randall Cook Vielle, Shira Kammen Vielle, Peter Becker Tenor
9	Tout par compas suy composés (rondeau, a3)	3:58			$0.99
Magister Grimace Composer A L'Arme, A L'Arme, virelai a4 Work Ensemble P.A.N. Ensemble, Peter Becker Tenor
10	A L'Arme, A L'Arme, virelai a4	1:38			$0.99
Guillaume de Machaut Composer Quant Theseus/Ne quier veoir (a4) Work Ensemble P.A.N. Ensemble, Randall Cook Vielle
11	Quant Theseus/Ne quier veoir (a4)	6:11			$0.99
Baude Cordier Composer Belle, bonne, sage, plaisant (rondeau, a3) Work Randall Cook Vielle, Shira Kammen Vielle, Crawford Young Lute
12	Belle, bonne, sage, plaisant (rondeau, a3)	2:26			$0.99
Jehan Vaillant Composer Par maintes foys Work Michael Collver Countertenor, Laurie Monahan Mezzo-Soprano, Peter Becker Tenor
13	Par maintes foys	2:54			$0.99
Pierre des Molins Composer De ce que fol pense, ballade a3 Work Ensemble P.A.N. Ensemble
14	Part 2	4:56			$0.99
Franciscus Andrieu Composer Armes, amours/O flour (ballade a4) Work Ensemble P.A.N. Ensemble, Peter Becker Tenor
15	Armes, amours/O flour (ballade a4)	6:31			$0.99