Album

In the history of western music, the works of the late Medieval period are among the most foreign-sounding to modern ears—they can delight those who love musical novelty, but can seem just plain odd to listeners who are most at home in the Baroque/Classical/Romantic repertoire. The music often has a strong but irregular or shifting pulse, with what feels like dropped or extra beats; an exaggeratedly melismatic style of text setting, in which a single syllable can be stretched over what seems like pages; an angular style of counterpoint, in which the voices may appear to have little logic in their relationships; and harmonies that operate on principles that might have come from a distant culture, if not another planet. Welcome to the world of the ars subtilior, the musical avant-garde of the late fourteenth century.

This recording, made in 1982 by the Medieval Ensemble of London, led by Peter and Timothy Davies, is historic because it was the first to apply the principles of the historical performance movement to this repertoire, and it includes the complete works of five of the most significant French composers of the period. The vocal ensemble performs some of the ballades, rondeaux, and virelais a cappella, and some accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble. (Most recent research has determined that all of these pieces are appropriate to be sung unaccompanied.) The group sings with purity and precision, gives the oddly metered music the punch it needs to make a full impact, and doesn't shy away from its contrapuntal and harmonic eccentricities. The music is so engagingly original, and it's performed with such spark and high energy, that this CD should appeal to adventurous listeners who enjoy being challenged by music from off the beaten path.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1
Johannes Suzoy Composer Prophilias, un des nobles de Roume, ballade Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Paul Elliott Tenor, Margaret Philpot Alto, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
1	Prophilias, un des nobles de Roume, ballade	2:16			$0.99
Johannes Suzoy Composer À l'arbe sec puis estre comparé, ballade Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble
2	À l'arbe sec puis estre comparé, ballade	1:28			$0.49
Johannes Suzoy Composer Pictagoras Jabol et Orpheüs, ballade Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Geoffrey Shaw Baritone, Michael George Baritone, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
3	Pictagoras Jabol et Orpheüs, ballade	3:27			$0.99
Jacob de Senleches Composer Work(s) Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Paul Elliott Tenor, Peter Davies Harp, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
4	Je me merveil / J'ay pluserus fois, ballade	3:43			$0.99
Jacob de Senleches Composer En ce gracieux tamps joli, virelai for 3 voices Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Robert Cooper Rebec, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor, Timothy Davies Lute
5	En ce gracieux tamps joli, virelai for 3 voices	2:12			$0.99
Jacob de Senleches Composer Fuions de ci, fuions, povre compaigne, ballade Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Geoffrey Shaw Baritone, Michael George Baritone, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
6	Fuions de ci, fuions, povre compaigne, ballade	3:09			$0.99
Guido [de Lange] Composer Dieux gart qui bien le chantera, rondeau for 3 voices Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Peter Davies Harp, Robert Cooper Rebec, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
7	Dieux gart qui bien le chantera, rondeau for 3 voices	7:32			$1.49
Guido [de Lange] Composer Or voit tout en aventure, ballade for 3 voices Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Geoffrey Shaw Baritone, Michael George Baritone, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
8	Or voit tout en aventure, ballade for 3 voices	3:00			$0.99
Jacob de Senleches Composer La harpe de melodie, virelai for 3 voices Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Paul Elliott Tenor, Peter Davies Harp, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
9	La harpe de melodie, virelai for 3 voices	3:35			$0.99
Jacob de Senleches Composer En attendant esperance conforte, ballade Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Margaret Philpot Alto, Peter Davies Harp, Timothy Davies Lute
10	En attendant esperance conforte, ballade	3:42			$0.99
Jacob de Senleches Composer Tel me voit et me regarde, virelai Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Robert Cooper Rebec, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor, Timothy Davies Lute
11	Tel me voit et me regarde, virelai	3:18			$0.99
Johannes Olivier Composer Si con cy gist mon cuer en grief martire, ballade Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Margaret Philpot Alto, Peter Davies Harp, Robert Cooper Rebec
12	Si con cy gist mon cuer en grief martire, ballade	1:56			$0.49
Johannes Galiot Composer Le Sault perilleux a l'aventure prins, ballade (from the Chantilly Manuscript) Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Geoffrey Shaw Baritone, Michael George Baritone, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
13	Le Sault perilleux a l'aventure prins, ballade (from the Chantilly Manuscript)	2:02			$0.99
Johannes Galiot Composer En atendant d'avoir la douce vie, rondeau (from the Chantilly Manuscript) Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Margaret Philpot Alto, Peter Davies Harp, Timothy Davies Lute
14	En atendant d'avoir la douce vie, rondeau (from the Chantilly Manuscript)	7:25			$1.49
Anonymous, French Composer En Albion de fluns environée, ballade Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Peter Davies Harp, Robert Cooper Rebec, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
15	En Albion de fluns environée, ballade	2:50			$0.99
Anonymous, French Composer Se j'ay perdu toute ma part, rondeau Work Medieval Ensemble of London Ensemble, Paul Elliott Tenor, Margaret Philpot Alto, Rogers Covey-Crump Tenor
16	Se j'ay perdu toute ma part, rondeau	9:05			$1.49