GUILLAUME DE MACHAUT Messe de Nostre Dame
GCD P32110
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GraindelavoixBjörn Schmelzer
Voices: François Testory, Paul de Troyer, David Hernandez, Marius Peterson, Adrian Sîrbu, Tomàs Maxé, Bart Meynckens, Arnout Malfliet, Jean-Christophe Brizard, Björn Schmelzer
Production details
Total playing time 72:50 Recorded in Antwerp (St. Augustine's Church), Belgium, on 25-31 March 2015 Engineered by Alexandre Fostier Produced by Graindelavoix Executive producer: Carlos Céster Booklet text: Björn Schmelzer English - Français - Deutsch
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GUILLAUME DE MACHAUTMesse de Nostre Dame
01 Inviolata genitriz / Felix virgo / Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentesMotet by Guillaume de Machaut02 Introitus: Salve sancta parensAnonymous (plainchant)03 KYRIE, Messe de Nostre DameGuillaume de Machaut04 GLORIA, Messe de Nostre DameGuillaume de Machaut05 Graduale: Benedicta et venerabilis es virgo MariaAnonymous (plainchant)06 Alleluya: Post partum virgoAnonymous (plainchant)07 Prosa: Verbum bonum et suaveAnonymous (plainchant & version Codex Las Huelgas)08 CREDO, Messe de Nostre DameGuillaume de Machaut09 Plange, regni respublica / Tu qui gregem tuum ducis / Apprehende arma et scutum et exurgeMotet by Guillaume de Machaut10 SANCTUS, Messe de Nostre DameGuillaume de Machaut11 AGNUS DEI, Messe de Nostre DameGuillaume de Machaut12 Communio: Beata visceraAnonymous (plainchant) & Perotinus (conductus)13 ITE MISSA EST, Messe de Nostre DameGuillaume de Machaut
About this CD
Much-awaited has been the new recording of the Machaut Messe de Nostre Dame from Björn Schmelzer and Graindelavoix, one of Glossa’s longstanding artistic “family” members. Following on from the trio of discs devoted to music in the spirit of the medieval master draughtsman Villard de Honnecourt the Antwerp-based ensemble – currently in residence at the Fondation Royaumont in France – has now turned to the first-known composer of an integral mass cycle: Guillaume de Machaut, who was a canon at Reims Cathedral in the fourteenth century. The work, described as a medieval monstre sacré, is performed by an all-male ensemble from Graindelavoix featuring both sharp high tenors and very low basses.
Graindelavoix’s continuing and vibrantly imaginative aesthetic is described, with his customary imagery, by Björn Schmelzer in the accompanying booklet essay, where he says that he is interested in “conjuring up the voices of the past”, and pointing to the contrast between the familiar and the strange as helping to describe the performance approach taken by Graindelavoix – one that emphasizes the individuality of the singers rather than a homogeneous ensemble sound.
Schmelzer’s choice of accompanying Propers for a Lady Mass underscores Machaut’s own devotion to the Virgin Mary, as do two of the composer’s spectacular motets, which are also associated with the city of Reims.